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The microsnail genera Clostophis and Acinolaemus (Eupulmonata, Pupilloidea, Hypselostomatidae) from central Thailand, with description of three new species
No full textHypselostomatid microsnails of the genera Clostophis and Acinolaemus from limestone hills in central Thailand were studied and three new species are described. Clostophis rhynchotes Tongkerd & Panha, sp. nov. is diagnosed by a conical spire, long and descending tuba, 14 spiral striations on the last whorl, and only a single parietal lamella. In addition, a previously known species, C. proboscideus, is redescribed, and variations in its apertural dentition are also documented. In the genus Acinolaemus, two new sympatric species that clearly differ in shell shape are described. Acinolaemus rhamphodontis Tongkerd & Panha, sp. nov. is characterised by a depressed conical spire with a long and descending tuba, and eight apertural dentitions, while A. corusticorus Tongkerd & Panha, sp. nov. possesses a conical shell without a tuba and nine apertural dentitions. Specimens from the type locality of A. ptychochilus (the type species), A. cryptidentatus and A. mueangonensis are re-described and compared with the new species. The living snails of A. mueangonensis and A. rhamphodontis Tongkerd & Panha, sp. nov. possess blackish to translucent bodies. In addition, COI barcoding data for Clostophis and Acinolaemus are provided for the first time
Solving the riddle of Aspidium ameristoneuron Fée, a misunderstood Cuban or Mexican species of Ctenitis (Dryopteridaceae) – Occasional Papers from the Herbarium Greuter, 7
No full textThe holotype of Aspidium ameristoneuron, the correct application of which has long been in doubt, has been identified in the herbarium RB in Rio de Janeiro. It was found to have been mislabeled, and its true origin is Mexico, not Cuba as stated in the protologue. The history of the labeling error is reconstructed, and the identity of Aspidium ameristoneuron with the species so far known as Ctenitis salvinii (here renamed Ctenitis ameristoneuros comb. nov.) is demonstrated. The names and synonyms involved are typified
Immune response and survival of a leafcutter ant with a compromised immune system during an entomopathogenic challenge
No full textSocial insects employ diverse strategies, including individual and collective sanitary care as well as colony-level hygiene, to prevent, manage and control pathogen transmission. The immune system constitutes a key component of the individual defensive repertoire, but its activation entails trade-offs with other life history traits due to its high metabolic cost. In this study, we investigated how different immune strategies interact in social insects. We challenged workers of the leaf-cutting ant Atta cephalotes with an entomopathogen to compare hygienic behavior and survival rates in the presence and absence of a previously activated immune encapsulation response. Entomopathogenic-challenged ants: (a) increased the production of infrabuccal pellets, formed by collecting detritus and fungal conidia and mixing them with antimicrobial compounds as a prophylactic behavior to avoid conidia germination; and (b) exhibited a reduced encapsulation response. Although the encapsulation response of insects is typically initiated within a few hours after infection, in our experiment neither pellet production nor encapsulation response depended on the timing of the prior immune challenge. Moreover, simultaneous activation of the immune system with both a foreign body (nylon implant) and entomopathogenic fungal conidia significantly reduced survival rates. Our findings suggest that when the ant immune system is chronically challenged to encapsulate a foreign body, its defensive capacity against a fungal pathogen is weakened
CAR T-cell therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus: a scoping review
No full textSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune rheumatic disease affecting more women than men. Although the etiology of SLE remains unknown, recent advances in understanding disease pathogenesis have revealed important aspects of immune system dysregulation and disruption of immune tolerance. The abnormal activation of B lymphocytes, with subsequent production of autoantibodies against self-antigens, leads to complement activation, immune complex formation, and tissue deposits, resulting in cell migration, tissue damage, and organ failure. Current treatment options for SLE include the use of nonspecific immunosuppressants, as well as targeted therapies against activation markers and signaling pathways. In this scoping review, we explore the emerging role of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in the treatment of autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRD), with a specific focus on SLE, translated from its well-established applications in cancer research and therapy. The review highlights the underlying mechanisms, clinical advancements, and therapeutic potential of CAR T-cell technology in modulating immune responses and targeting disease-specific pathways in SLE. We also discuss the challenges and future directions of CAR T-cell therapy as a transformative approach in the management of AIRD
Inventory of Culicidae in and around the Grande Cariçaie Nature Reserves at Lake Neuchâtel, Western Switzerland
No full textFor the first time an extensive study on mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) was carried out in and around the Grande Cariçaie nature reserves, a wetland area along Lake Neuchâtel in Western Switzerland. This study contributes to improve knowledge on Swiss regional mosquito distribution and diversity, which is important both from a conservation perspective and for a possible assessment of future risks for human and animal health. Fifteen sites were sampled monthly between April and September 2019 by setting CDC miniature light traps and by investigating larval habitats. The sampling sites were located either in a natural, peri-urban or urban environment. Overall, a total of 3,674 mosquito specimens were identified. A high species diversity with 17 different species and a species composition typical for a wetland area with Ae. annulipes-cantans, Ae. vexans, Ae. sticticus, Ae. cinereus-geminus and Ae. rusticus as dominant species, was found. A strong overlap between the three categories of environments regarding species abundance, richness and composition was observed. No invasive mosquito species were recorded in the study area
Late Oligocene petrified wood remains from alluvium sediments of Radomir Depression, Bulgaria
No full textThe paper presents a xylotomic study of some samples of petrified wood collected from alluviums in the Vladimir village (Radomir Depression, Bulgaria). Most likely they were transported from Late Oligocene coal-bearing sediments (Chattian) of Pernik or Bobov Dol areas. The samples have been identified as wood of Taxodioxylon taxodii, a fossil equivalent of the recent species of Taxodium distichum. The latter is a tree which grows presently in restricted areas of South USA, Mexico and Guatemala, but used to be widespread in the fossil records of the European Cenozoic flora as leaf imprints, wood remains and even as an important member in the Tertiary coal forests
Horizon scanning of potential new alien vascular plant species and their climatic niche space across the Arctic
No full textThe terrestrial Arctic faces increasing vulnerability to alien plant invasions due to climate change and intensifying human activities. Using a data-driven horizon scanning approach that leverages the Global Naturalized Alien Flora (GloNAF) database, species occurrence data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), and climate data from WorldClim, we identified 2,554 potential new alien vascular plant species with climatic niches overlapping Arctic floristic provinces. Six major potential hotspots for introductions were detected, with western Alaska, southwestern and southeastern Greenland, northern Iceland, Fennoscandia, and Kanin–Pechora showing the highest numbers of potential alien species. Potential source regions for these species extended globally across diverse climate zones, with substantial contributions from proximate temperate regions in Europe and North America. Taxonomic analysis revealed that most Arctic floristic provinces exhibited compositions similar to global patterns, with only Franz Joseph Land showing significant deviation after multiple comparison corrections, although island provinces generally demonstrated greater compositional distinctiveness than mainland provinces. Zero-inflated beta regression analysis confirmed our hypothesis that species with higher absolute latitude distributions demonstrate greater potential for climatic overlap with Arctic floristic provinces. Our findings emphasize the need to develop effective biosecurity measures in high-risk regions and to proactively manage emerging invasion risks across the rapidly changing terrestrial Arctic ecosystems. This will provide a foundation for supporting community-based monitoring networks essential for early detection and rapid response initiatives
Clematis danxiacola (Ranunculaceae), a new species from the Danxia landform area in Zhejiang Province, China
No full textClematis danxiacola, a novel species of Ranunculaceae discovered in the Danxia landform area of Zhejiang, China, is described and illustrated herein. This species exhibits morphological similarities to C. terniflora and C. chinensis, but can be distinguished by specific characteristics, including the indumentum of leaflet blades, sepal apex morphology, stamen and pistil quantities, and achene morphology and dimensions. The plastome of C. danxiacola sp. nov. extends 159,506 bp and contains two inverted repeats of 31,040 bp, separated by a large single-copy region of 82,836 bp and a small single-copy region of 18,407 bp. The analysis revealed 136 functional genes, including 92 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that C. danxiacola shares close evolutionary relationship with C. terniflora and C. chinensis
Two new species of Euphranta Loew (Diptera, Tephritidae, Trypetinae, Adramini) from India
No full textTwo new species of Euphranta Loew are described from India, namely Euphranta goniothalami David & Hancock, sp. nov. reared from seeds of an endemic shrub, Goniothalamus keralensis E.S.S. Kumar, Shaju, Roy & Raj Kumar, in Valara, Idukki district (which is a part of the Western Ghats mountains), and Euphranta undulata David & Hancock, sp. nov. from Meghalaya, Northeast India. An updated key to all Euphranta species known to occur in India is also provided
Climate change-informed habitat suitability and conservation priorities for Cinchona spp. in eastern DRC
No full textBackground and aims – Cinchona species, the botanical source of quinine, remain essential for treating severe malaria and support rural livelihoods in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Yet, increasing climate stress and land degradation threaten future habitat suitability. This study assessed current and mid-century habitat suitability for Cinchona in North and South Kivu provinces and prioritised areas for conservation and replanting.Material and methods – Potential distributions were modelled with MaxEnt using 125 validated occurrences and ten environmental predictors (five bioclimatic, three topographic, two soil). To limit multicollinearity, we pre-selected variables with |r| < 0.7 and VIF < 10. Future projections used 2050s CMIP6 climates under SSP2–4.5 and SSP5–8.5.Key results – Model performance was high. Thermal variability together with elevation most strongly explained suitability, indicating a preference for moderate thermal regimes at 1,400–2,300 m. Under current climate, high suitability covers 4.13% of the study area, moderate 6.49%, low 27.67%, and 61.71% is unsuitable. By the 2050s, high suitability contracts to 1.27% (SSP2–4.5) and 1.07% (SSP5–8.5), while unsuitable area expands to 81.72% and 83.90%, respectively. High-suitability zones cluster along the eastern escarpment, notably Lubero, Oïcha, Kabare, Walungu, and Butembo; whereas lowland territories such as Shabunda and Fizi become largely unsuitable.Conclusion – Our results delineate micro-refugia for in-situ protection, guide climate-resilient replanting toward highlands, and indicate where ex-situ measures and assisted restoration will be needed under future climate conditions