Chemotaxonomy of marine sponges: Families Microcionidae, Raspailiidae and Axinellidae, and their relationships with other families in the orders Poecilosclerida and Axinellida (Porifera : Demospongiae)

1992 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 261 ◽  
Author(s):  
JNA Hooper ◽  
RJ Capon ◽  
CP Keenan ◽  
DL Parry ◽  
N Smit
Keyword(s):  
Marine Sponges ◽  
Antibiotic Activity ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Morphological Evidence ◽  
Carotenoid Pigments ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family Level ◽  
Tropical Australia ◽  
Biochemical Profiles

Biochemical studies on 72 species of marine sponges from tropical Australia showed that 42 of 132 biochemical characters were useful in describing relationships between the families Microcionidae, Raspailiidae and Axinellidae, and other members of the orders Poecilosclerida and Axinellida. Chemotaxonomic characters were obtained from profiles of free amino acids (34 species), carotenoid pigments (41 species), general proteins (62 species) and antibiotic activity against three human pathogens (42 species of sponges). Biochemical data essentially supported the existing division within class Demospongiae, i.e. Ceractinomorpha and Tetractinomorpha, with the notable exception that the 'tetractinomorph' families Raspailiidae and two genera of Axinellidae were found to be more closely related to the Ceractinomorpha. Within-group comparisons demonstrated that Microcionidae (14 species) and Raspailiidae (15 species) were relatively homogeneous in their biochemical profiles, indicating that they should remain separated at the family level, supporting similar conclusions based on morphological data. Similar trends were also shown for the families Desmacellidae (2 species) and Desmoxyidae (3 species), contrary to recent taxonomic revisions by other authors who hypothesised that these families might be heterogenous. Conversely, Axinellidae (27 species) contained at least three disparate groups of genera: one (i.e. Phakellia, Reniochalina) showing strong affinities with ceractinomorphs, a second (i.e. Acanthella, Pseudaxinyssa) and possibly a third (i.e. Axinella, Teichaxinella) showing closer similarities to Desmoxyidae, Hemiasterellidae and outgroups from Hadromerida and 'Lithistida'. These results provided a measure of support for the removal of Raspailiidae to Poecilosclerida, and the division of Axinellidae into several families, as proposed independently in recent revisions based on morphological evidence.

scholarly journals Ancient origins and multiple appearances of carotenoid-pigmented feathers in birds

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1788) ◽  
pp. 20140806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel B. Thomas ◽  
Kevin J. McGraw ◽  
Michael W. Butler ◽  
Matthew T. Carrano ◽  
Odile Madden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Raman Spectroscopy ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Carotenoid Pigments ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family Level ◽  
History Of ◽  
Living Species ◽  
Insight Into

The broad palette of feather colours displayed by birds serves diverse biological functions, including communication and camouflage. Fossil feathers provide evidence that some avian colours, like black and brown melanins, have existed for at least 160 million years (Myr), but no traces of bright carotenoid pigments in ancient feathers have been reported. Insight into the evolutionary history of plumage carotenoids may instead be gained from living species. We visually surveyed modern birds for carotenoid-consistent plumage colours (present in 2956 of 9993 species). We then used high-performance liquid chromatography and Raman spectroscopy to chemically assess the family-level distribution of plumage carotenoids, confirming their presence in 95 of 236 extant bird families (only 36 family-level occurrences had been confirmed previously). Using our data for all modern birds, we modelled the evolutionary history of carotenoid-consistent plumage colours on recent supertrees. Results support multiple independent origins of carotenoid plumage pigmentation in 13 orders, including six orders without previous reports of plumage carotenoids. Based on time calibrations from the supertree, the number of avian families displaying plumage carotenoids increased throughout the Cenozoic, and most plumage carotenoid originations occurred after the Miocene Epoch (23 Myr). The earliest origination of plumage carotenoids was reconstructed within Passeriformes, during the Palaeocene Epoch (66–56 Myr), and not at the base of crown-lineage birds.

The family Anchistioididae Borradaile, 1915 (Decapoda: Caridea) is a synonym of Palaemonidae Rafinesque, 1815 based on molecular and morphological evidence

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-287
Author(s):  
Lai Him Chow ◽  
Sammy De Grave ◽  
Ling Ming Tsang
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Morphological Evidence ◽  
Larval Morphology ◽  
Morphological Examination ◽  
Nuclear Markers ◽  
The Family ◽  
Molecular Studies ◽  
Family Level ◽  
Molar Process ◽  
Support Family

Abstract Several systematic revisions of the superfamily Palaemonoidea Rafinesque, 1815 (Natantia) have been published, with molecular studies complementing morphological examination. Yet, the true systematic positions of two families within the superfamily have remained uncertain, one of these being Anchistioididae Borradaile, 1915, the second being Desmocarididae Borradaile, 1915. We constructed a further phylogeny of Palaemonoidea based on two mitochondrial and five nuclear markers to resolve this issue. AnchistioidesPaulson, 1875 (the sole genus of Anchistioididae) is recovered nested within Palaemonidae Rafinesque, 1815, calling into question the validity of Anchistioididae as a distinct family. We also review the morphological characters that have been used to support family level status of Anchistioides including mouthparts adaptations, telson ornamentation, larval morphology, the presence of an appendix interna on the first pleopod in both sexes, and the mandible with a distally flared molar process. Although the latter two characters appear to be synapomorphic to the genus, we contend that these are ambiguous and not well founded to support the family-level status of the genus. As a consequence, and supported by the phylogenetic results, Anchistioididae is herein considered to be a synonym of Palaemonidae.

scholarly journals Bioactive Compounds from Marine Sponges: Fundamentals and Applications

Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 246
Author(s):  
Disha Varijakzhan ◽  
Jiun-Yan Loh ◽  
Wai-Sum Yap ◽  
Khatijah Yusoff ◽  
Rabiha Seboussi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bioactive Compounds ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Marine Sponges ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Fish Pathogens ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Theonella Swinhoei ◽  
Ability To Act ◽  
Sessile Invertebrates

Marine sponges are sessile invertebrates that can be found in temperate, polar and tropical regions. They are known to be major contributors of bioactive compounds, which are discovered in and extracted from the marine environment. The compounds extracted from these sponges are known to exhibit various bioactivities, such as antimicrobial, antitumor and general cytotoxicity. For example, various compounds isolated from Theonella swinhoei have showcased various bioactivities, such as those that are antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal. In this review, we discuss bioactive compounds that have been identified from marine sponges that showcase the ability to act as antibacterial, antiviral, anti-malarial and antifungal agents against human pathogens and fish pathogens in the aquaculture industry. Moreover, the application of such compounds as antimicrobial agents in other veterinary commodities, such as poultry, cattle farming and domesticated cats, is discussed, along with a brief discussion regarding the mode of action of these compounds on the targeted sites in various pathogens. The bioactivity of the compounds discussed in this review is focused mainly on compounds that have been identified between 2000 and 2020 and includes the novel compounds discovered from 2018 to 2021.

Three new cribrimorph bryozoans (order Cheilostomatida) from the early Miocene of Argentina, with a discussion on spinocystal shield morphologies

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Juan López-Gappa ◽  
Leandro M. Pérez ◽  
Ana C.S. Almeida ◽  
Débora Iturra ◽  
Dennis P. Gordon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type Species ◽  
Systematic Position ◽  
Early Miocene ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Fossil Species ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
The Family ◽  
Subjective Synonym

Abstract Bryozoans with calcified frontal shields formed by the fusion of costae, collectively constituting a spinocyst, are traditionally assigned to the family Cribrilinidae. Today, this family is regarded as nonmonophyletic. In the Argentine Cenozoic, cribrilinids were until recently represented by only two fossil species from the Paleocene of Patagonia. This study describes the first fossil representatives of Jolietina and Parafigularia: J. victoria n. sp. and P. pigafettai n. sp., respectively. A fossil species of Figularia, F. elcanoi n. sp., is also described. The material comes from the early Miocene of the Monte León and Chenque formations (Patagonia, Argentina). For comparison, we also provide redescriptions of the remaining extant species of Jolietina: J. latimarginata (Busk, 1884) and J. pulchra Canu and Bassler, 1928a. The systematic position of some species previously assigned to Figularia is here discussed. Costafigularia n. gen. is erected, with Figularia pulcherrima Tilbrook, Hayward, and Gordon, 2001 as type species. Two species previously assigned to Figularia are here transferred to Costafigularia, resulting in C. jucunda n. comb. and C. tahitiensis n. comb. One species of Figularia is reassigned to Vitrimurella, resulting in V. ampla n. comb. The family Vitrimurellidae is here reassigned to the superfamily Cribrilinoidea. The subgenus Juxtacribrilina is elevated to genus rank. Inferusia is regarded as a subjective synonym of Parafigularia. Parafigularia darwini Moyano, 2011 is synonymized with I. taylori Kuklinski and Barnes, 2009, resulting in Parafigularia taylori n. comb. Morphological data suggest that these genera comprise different lineages, and a discussion on the disparities among cribrilinid (sensu lato) spinocysts is provided. UUID: http://zoobank.org/215957d3-064b-47e2-9090-d0309f6c9cd8

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Activities of Marine Sponge-Associated Bacteria

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Yitayal S. Anteneh ◽  
Qi Yang ◽  
Melissa H. Brown ◽  
Christopher M. M. Franco
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Antimicrobial Activities ◽  
Marine Sponges ◽  
Bioactive Metabolites ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Sponge Associated Bacteria ◽  
Microbial Symbionts ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi

The misuse and overuse of antibiotics have led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms, which decreases the chance of treating those infected with existing antibiotics. This resistance calls for the search of new antimicrobials from prolific producers of novel natural products including marine sponges. Many of the novel active compounds reported from sponges have originated from their microbial symbionts. Therefore, this study aims to screen for bioactive metabolites from bacteria isolated from sponges. Twelve sponge samples were collected from South Australian marine environments and grown on seven isolation media under four incubation conditions; a total of 1234 bacterial isolates were obtained. Of these, 169 bacteria were tested in media optimized for production of antimicrobial metabolites and screened against eleven human pathogens. Seventy bacteria were found to be active against at least one test bacterial or fungal pathogen, while 37% of the tested bacteria showed activity against Staphylococcus aureus including methicillin-resistant strains and antifungal activity was produced by 21% the isolates. A potential novel active compound was purified possessing inhibitory activity against S. aureus. Using 16S rRNA, the strain was identified as Streptomyces sp. Our study highlights that the marine sponges of South Australia are a rich source of abundant and diverse bacteria producing metabolites with antimicrobial activities against human pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

scholarly journals Unearthing LTR retrotransposon gag genes co-opted in the deep evolution of eukaryotes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianhua Wang ◽  
Guan-Zhu Han
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Selective Pressure ◽  
Ltr Retrotransposon ◽  
Ltr Retrotransposons ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family Level ◽  
Gene Expression Analyses ◽  
Comprehensive Picture ◽  
Gypsy Retrotransposons

Abstract LTR retrotransposons comprise a major component of the genomes of eukaryotes. On occasion, retrotransposon genes can be recruited by their hosts for diverse functions, a process formally referred to as co-option. However, a comprehensive picture of LTR retrotransposon gag gene co-option in eukaryotes is still lacking, with several documented cases exclusively involving Ty3/Gypsy retrotransposons in animals. Here we use a phylogenomic approach to systemically unearth co-option of retrotransposon gag genes above the family level of taxonomy in 2,011 eukaryotes, namely co-option occurring during the deep evolution of eukaryotes. We identify a total of 14 independent gag gene co-option events across more than 740 eukaryote families, eight of which have not been reported previously. Among these retrotransposon gag gene co-option events, nine, four, and one involve gag genes of Ty3/Gypsy, Ty1/Copia, and Bel-Pao retrotransposons, respectively. Seven, four, and three co-option events occurred in animals, plants, and fungi, respectively. Interestingly, two co-option events took place in the early evolution of angiosperms. Both selective pressure and gene expression analyses further support that these co-opted gag genes might perform diverse cellular functions in their hosts, and several co-opted gag genes might be subject to positive selection. Taken together, our results provide a comprehensive picture of LTR retrotransposon gag gene co-option events that occurred during the deep evolution of eukaryotes, and suggest paucity of LTR retrotransposon gag gene co-option during the deep evolution of eukaryotes.

scholarly journals The Role of Botanical Families in Medicinal Ethnobotany: A Phylogenetic Perspective

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
Airy Gras ◽  
Oriane Hidalgo ◽  
Ugo D’Ambrosio ◽  
Montse Parada ◽  
Teresa Garnatje ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Specific Level ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family Level ◽  
Phylogenetic Level ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Quantitative Analyses ◽  
Medicinal Flora

Studies suggesting that medicinal plants are not chosen at random are becoming more common. The goal of this work is to shed light on the role of botanical families in ethnobotany, depicting in a molecular phylogenetic frame the relationships between families and medicinal uses of vascular plants in several Catalan-speaking territories. The simple quantitative analyses for ailments categories and the construction of families and disorders matrix were carried out in this study. A Bayesian approach was used to estimate the over- and underused families in the medicinal flora. Phylogenetically informed analyses were carried out to identify lineages in which there is an overrepresentation of families in a given category of use, i.e., hot nodes. The ethnobotanicity index, at a specific level, was calculated and also adapted to the family level. Two diversity indices to measure the richness of reported taxa within each family were calculated. A total of 47,630 use reports were analysed. These uses are grouped in 120 botanical families. The ethnobotanicity index for this area is 14.44% and the ethnobotanicity index at the family level is 68.21%. The most-reported families are Lamiaceae and Asteraceae and the most reported troubles are disorders of the digestive and nutritional system. Based on the meta-analytic results, indicating hot nodes of useful plants at the phylogenetic level, specific ethnopharmacological research may be suggested, including a phytochemical approach of particularly interesting taxa.

scholarly journals Inuit plant use in the eastern Subarctic: comparative ethnobotany in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, and in Nain, Nunatsiavut

Botany ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 271-282
Author(s):  
Alain Cuerrier ◽  
Courtenay Clark ◽  
Christian H. Norton
Keyword(s):  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Ethnobotanical Knowledge ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Medicinal Species ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
Plant Uses ◽  
The Family ◽  
Plant Names ◽  
Family Level ◽  
Comparative Ethnobotany

Plants are important in traditional Inuit life. They are used for food, tea, medicine, etc. Based on semi-structured interviews with 35 informants, we documented and compared plant names and uses in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, and in Nain, Nunatsiavut. Plant names and uses were expected to be similar between communities owing to common boreal–subarctic environments and cultural ties. Both communities reported the same number of taxa, with equivalent proportions of vascular and nonvascular plants, growth forms, use categories, and medicinal uses. Forty-three species were used in each community, for a total of 78 species from 39 families. Despite a high overlap in species distributions, only 35% of nonvascular and 56% of vascular species were used in both communities. Correspondence was higher at the family level (64% of nonvascular and 75% of vascular families shared). The Ericaceae family was the most used, followed by Rosaceae. Thirteen of 30 medicinal species were shared between communities. There was a low correspondence regarding the conditions for which the medicinal species were used. Edible taxa were shared the most (52%). Plant uses unique to either Nain or Kangiqsualujjuaq may reveal separate bodies of traditional knowledge, or may reflect an overall loss of ethnobotanical knowledge in the Subarctic due to recent lifestyle changes.

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