Field Isolation and Laboratory Vector-Host Studies of Brazoran Virus (Peribunyaviridae: Orthobunyavirus) from Florida.

Brazoran virus was first isolated from Culex mosquitoes in Texas in 2012, yet little is known about this virus. We report the isolation of this virus from Culex erraticus from southern Florida during 2016. The Florida strain had a nucleotide identity of 96.

Functional annotation of a divergent genome using sequence and structure-based similarity.

Background: Microsporidia are a large taxon of intracellular pathogens characterized by extraordinarily streamlined genomes with unusually high sequence divergence and many species-specific adaptations. These unique factors pose challenges for traditional genome annotation methods based on sequence similarity. As a result, many of the microsporidian genomes sequenced to date contain numerous genes of unknown function.

Structure of the reduced microsporidian proteasome bound by PI31-like peptides in dormant spores.

Proteasomes play an essential role in the life cycle of intracellular pathogens with extracellular stages by ensuring proteostasis in environments with limited resources. In microsporidia, divergent parasites with extraordinarily streamlined genomes, the proteasome complexity and structure are unknown, which limits our understanding of how these unique pathogens adapt and compact essential eukaryotic complexes. We present cryo-electron microscopy structures of the microsporidian 20S and 26S proteasome isolated from dormant or germinated Vairimorpha necatrix spores.

Characterization of the Largest Secretory Protein Family, Ricin B Lectin-like Protein, in : Insights into Microsporidian Adaptation to Host.

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular pathogens infecting nearly all animal phyla. The microsporidian has been isolated from several lepidopteran species, including the economy-important silkworms as well as several crop pests. Proteins secreted by parasites can be important virulent factors in modulating host pathways.

Envenomation by Steatoda borealis (Araneae: Theridiidae) in Connecticut, USA.

We report a case of envenomation by Steatoda borealis (Hentz, 1850) in Connecticut in late spring 2021. The bitten subject was a 60-yr-old female Caucasian. The bite occurred upon disturbing some books in her basement.

Genomic analysis of Asian honeybee populations in China reveals evolutionary relationships and adaptation to abiotic stress.

The geographic and biological diversity of China has resulted in the differential adaptation of the eastern honeybee, , to these varied habitats. were collected from 14 locations in China. Their genomes were sequenced, and nucleotide polymorphisms were identified at more than 9 million sites.

Differences in structure and hibernation mechanism highlight diversification of the microsporidian ribosome.

Assembling and powering ribosomes are energy-intensive processes requiring fine-tuned cellular control mechanisms. In organisms operating under strict nutrient limitations, such as pathogenic microsporidia, conservation of energy via ribosomal hibernation and recycling is critical. The mechanisms by which hibernation is achieved in microsporidia, however, remain poorly understood.

Molecular and morphological characterisation of a novel microsporidian species, Tubulinosema suzukii, infecting Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae).

A microsporidium showing morphological characteristics typical of a Tubulinosema species was discovered in Drosophila suzukii. All developmental stages were diplokaryotic and grew in direct contact with the host cell cytoplasm. Spores from fresh preparations were ovoid to slightly pyriform and measured 4.

Prevalence of Infection and Co-Infection and Presence of Rickettsial Endosymbionts in (Acari: Ixodidae) in Connecticut, USA.

is currently known to transmit 7 pathogens responsible for Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, tick-borne relapsing fever, ehrlichiosis, and Powassan encephalitis. can also be colonized by endosymbiotic bacteria including those in the genus of . We screened 459 ticks submitted to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Tick Testing Laboratory with the objectives to (1) examine differences in infection prevalence of , , , and , (2) evaluate whether prevalence of co-infections occur at the same frequency that would be expected based on single infection, and (3) determine the presence of rickettsial endosymbionts in .

A formal redefinition of the genera Nosema and Vairimorpha (Microsporidia: Nosematidae) and reassignment of species based on molecular phylogenetics.

The microsporidian genera Nosema and Vairimorpha comprise a clade described from insects. Currently the genus Nosema is defined as having a dimorphic life cycle characterized by diplokaryotic stages and diplosporoblastic sporogony with two functionally and morphologically distinct spore types ("early" or "primary" and "environmental"). The Vairimorpha life cycle, in addition to a Nosema-type diplokaryotic sporogony, includes an octosporoblastic sporogony producing eight uninucleate spores (octospores) within a sporophorous vesicle.

Evolutionary compaction and adaptation visualized by the structure of the dormant microsporidian ribosome.

Microsporidia are eukaryotic parasites that infect essentially all animal species, including many of agricultural importance, and are significant opportunistic parasites of humans. They are characterized by having a specialized infection apparatus, an obligate intracellular lifestyle, rudimentary mitochondria and the smallest known eukaryotic genomes. Extreme genome compaction led to minimal gene sizes affecting even conserved ancient complexes such as the ribosome.

Evolutionary and functional studies on microsporidian ATP-binding cassettes: Insights into the adaptation of microsporidia to obligated intracellular parasitism.

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters comprise the largest family of transmembrane proteins and are found in all domains of life. The ABCs are involved in a variety of biological processes and as exporters play important roles in multidrug resistance. However, the ABC transporters have not been addressed in microsporidia, which are a very large group of obligate intracellular parasites that can infect nearly all animals, including humans.

Microsporidian genus Berwaldia (Opisthosporidia, Microsporidia), infecting daphnids (Crustacea, Branchiopoda): Biology, structure, molecular phylogeny and description of two new species.

Structural, molecular and life cycle data are presented for two microsporidian species of the genus Berwaldia: B. singularis Larsson, 1981 (type species of the genus) and B. schaefernai Vávra and Larsson, 1994, parasites of Daphnia pulex Leydig, 1860 and Daphnia galeata Sars, 1863, respectively.

Divergence of a Tandem Duplication of Manganese Superoxide Dismutase in Nosema bombycis.

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is a key enzyme in the protection of cells from oxidative stress. A tandem duplication of the MnSOD gene (NbMnSOD1 and NbMnSOD2) in the genome of Nosema bombycis, a parasite of the silkworm Bombyx mori, was previously identified. Here, we compare the protein structures of NbMnSOD1 and NbMnSOD2 and characterize these two proteins in terms of cellular localization, timing of transcription, protein structure, and enzyme activity.

SilkPathDB: a comprehensive resource for the study of silkworm pathogens.

Unlabelled: Silkworm pathogens have been heavily impeding the development of sericultural industry and play important roles in lepidopteran ecology, and some of which are used as biological insecticides. Rapid advances in studies on the omics of silkworm pathogens have produced a large amount of data, which need to be brought together centrally in a coherent and systematic manner. This will facilitate the reuse of these data for further analysis.

The Genome of Nosema sp. Isolate YNPr: A Comparative Analysis of Genome Evolution within the Nosema/Vairimorpha Clade.

The microsporidian parasite designated here as Nosema sp. Isolate YNPr was isolated from the cabbage butterfly Pieris rapae collected in Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. The genome was sequenced by Illumina sequencing and compared to those of two related members of the Nosema/Vairimorpha clade, Nosema ceranae and Nosema apis.

Envenomation by Trachelas tranquillus (Araneae: Corrinidae) in Connecticut.

We report a case of envenomation by Trachelas tranquillus (Hentz) in Connecticut in late September 2013. The bitten subject, a 50 yr-old-female Caucasian, reported a painful wasp-like sting and brushed the spider from her leg. An erythematous macule formed at the site of the bite.

Searching for convergent evolution in manganese superoxidase dismutase using hydrophobic cluster analysis.

There are numerous examples of convergent evolution in nature. Major ecological adaptations such as flight, loss of limbs in vertebrates, pesticide resistance, adaptation to a parasitic way of life, etc., have all evolved more than once, as seen by their analogous functions in separate taxa.

Morphological and molecular characterization of a microsporidian parasite, Takaokaspora nipponicus n. gen., n. sp. from the invasive rock pool mosquito, Ochlerotatus japonicus japonicus.

A new genus and species of Microsporidia, Takaokaspora nipponicus n. gen., n.

Intraspecific polymorphism of rDNA among five Nosema bombycis isolates from different geographic regions in China.

The microsporidian Nosema bombycis is the causative agent of pébrine, a highly infectious disease of the silkworm Bombyx mori. Three regions of the multicopy rDNA gene were examined in order to investigate the relationships among five Nosema isolates from various regions of China. Ribosomal DNA alleles are present on each of the 18 chromosomes of N.

Ultrastructural characterization and comparative phylogenetic analysis of new microsporidia from Siberian mosquitoes: evidence for coevolution and host switching.

A survey of mosquito larvae infected with microsporidia was conducted from 2005 to 2008 in the Tomsk, Kemerovo and Novosibirsk regions of western Siberia, Russia. Twenty-one morphologically and genetically unique species of microsporidia were isolated from nine species of Anopheles, Aedes, Culex and Ochlerotatus mosquitoes including: (1) 14 proposed new species of Amblyospora (A. bakcharia, A.

Molecular evolution of West Nile virus in a northern temperate region: Connecticut, USA 1999-2008.

West Nile virus (WNV) has become firmly established in northeastern US, reemerging every summer since its introduction into North America in 1999. To determine whether WNV overwinters locally or is reseeded annually, we examined the patterns of viral lineage persistence and replacement in Connecticut over 10 consecutive transmission seasons by phylogenetic analysis. In addition, we compared the full protein coding sequence among WNV isolates to search for evidence of convergent and adaptive evolution.

Permanent Genetic Resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 June 2010 - 31 July 2010.

This article documents the addition of 205 microsatellite marker loci to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Bagassa guianensis, Bulweria bulwerii, Camelus bactrianus, Chaenogobius annularis, Creontiades dilutus, Diachasmimorpha tryoni, Dioscorea alata, Euhrychiopsis lecontei, Gmelina arborea, Haliotis discus hannai, Hirtella physophora, Melanaphis sacchari, Munida isos, Thaumastocoris peregrinus and Tuberolachnus salignus. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Halobaena caerulea, Procellaria aequinoctialis, Oceanodroma monteiroi, Camelus ferus, Creontiades pacificus, Dioscorea rotundata, Dioscorea praehensilis, Dioscorea abyssinica, Dioscorea nummularia, Dioscorea transversa, Dioscorea esculenta, Dioscorea pentaphylla, Dioscorea trifida, Hirtella bicornis, Hirtella glandulosa, Licania alba, Licania canescens, Licania membranaceae, Couepia guianensis and 7 undescribed Thaumastocoris species.

A tandem duplication of manganese superoxide dismutase in Nosema bombycis and its evolutionary origins.

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular eukaryotic parasites with small genomes. They infect animals from a wide variety of phyla, including humans. Two manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) genes, designated NbMnSOD1 and NbMnSOD2, were found to be organized in a tandem array within the Nosema bombycis genome.

Phylogenetic position of Octosporea muscaedomesticae (Microsporidia) and its relationship to Octosporea bayeri based on small subunit rDNA analysis.

Comparative phylogenetic analysis of the small subunit rDNA sequence of Octosporea muscaedomesticae (Flu, 1911) (type species) (Microsporidia) isolated from the blowfly Phormia regina (Diptera:Calliphoridae) is presented. Neighbor Joining bootstrap, Maximum Parsimony and Maximum Likelihood analyses with 38 microsporidian taxa representing five major clades of Microsporidia placed O. muscaedomesticae on a separate branch within a clade containing parasites of freshwater hosts.