Ice-inhabiting species of Bdelloidea Rotifera reveal a pre-Quaternary ancestry in the Arctic cryosphere.

Historical climate data indicate that the Earth has passed through multiple geological periods with much warmer-than-present climates, including epochs of the Miocene (23-5.3 mya BP) with temperatures 3-4°C above present, and more recent interglacial stages of the Quaternary, for example, Marine Isotope Stage 11c (approx. 425-395 ka BP) and Middle Holocene thermal maximum (7.

Transcriptomic Profiling at the Maternal-to-Zygotic Transition in Leech, .

The glossiphoniid leech, , is an experimentally tractable member of the superphylum, Lophotrochozoa. Its large embryonic cells, stereotyped asymmetric cell divisions and ex vivo development capabilities makes it a favorable model for studying the molecular and cellular events of a representative spiralian. In this study, we focused on a narrow developmental time window of ~6-8 h, comprising stages just prior to and immediately following zygote deposition.

Genome assembly of sp. strain SED1, a psychrotolerant bacterium isolated from Deception Glacier (Washington, USA).

Strain SED1 was isolated from glacial samples collected on Mount Deception, Washington, USA. Genome sequencing and assembly identified a DNA G + C content of 60.4 mol% with 6,125 predicted proteins.

Biocontrol of snail-borne parasites with the glossiphoniid leech, .

Parasites in which freshwater snails are intermediate hosts pose a serious threat to human health worldwide. We show here that freshwater snails can potentially be controlled by leech predation; in principle, this approach could significantly reduce snail-borne parasitic diseases (SBPDs). Specifically, glossiphoniid leeches, and congener species consume freshwater snails indiscriminately, while other common leeches do not.

The Glacier Ice Worm, , Elevates Mitochondrial Inorganic Polyphosphate (PolyP) Levels in Response to Stress.

The inorganic polymer, polyphosphate (polyP), is present in all organisms examined to date with putative functions ranging from the maintenance of bioenergetics to stress resilience and protein homeostasis. Bioenergetics in the glacier-obligate, segmented worm, , is characterized by a paradoxical increase in intracellular ATP levels as temperatures decline. We show here that steady-state, mitochondrial polyP levels vary among species of Annelida, but were elevated only in in response to thermal stress.

Two new tardigrade genera from New Zealand's Southern Alp glaciers display morphological stasis and parallel evolution.

Tardigrada is an invertebrate phylum that often constitutes a dominant micrometazoan group on glaciers worldwide. We investigated tardigrades residing in surface ice above the equilibrium line altitude (ELA) on three temperate glaciers of New Zealand's Southern Alps. Morphological, morphometric and multilocus DNA analyses (CO1, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS-2) revealed two new genera comprising four species, of which two are formally described here: Kopakaius gen.

Five animal phyla in glacier ice reveal unprecedented biodiversity in New Zealand's Southern Alps.

Glacier ice is an extreme environment in which most animals cannot survive. Here we report the colonization of high elevation, climate-threatened glaciers along New Zealand's southwestern coast by species of Arthropoda, Nematoda, Platyhelminthes, Rotifera and Tardigrada. Based on DNA barcoding and haplotype-inferred evidence for deep genetic variability, at least 12 undescribed species are reported, some of which have persisted in this niche habitat throughout the Pleistocene.

Biophysical mechanism for zinc as an anticancer agent.

The experimental observation that an increase in calcium above micromolar concentrations results in a slowing or stopping of anaphase-A motion is evidence for an electrostatic mechanism for poleward mitotic chromosome motions. Specifically, higher concentrations of doubly-charged calcium ions screen negative charges at microtubule free "plus" ends at kinetochores and at centrosomes. These structures normally interact with positive charges at kinetochores and positively charged microtubule free ends vicinal to centrosomes to generate poleward force.

Key rules of life and the fading cryosphere: Impacts in alpine lakes and streams.

Alpine regions are changing rapidly due to loss of snow and ice in response to ongoing climate change. While studies have documented ecological responses in alpine lakes and streams to these changes, our ability to predict such outcomes is limited. We propose that the application of fundamental rules of life can help develop necessary predictive frameworks.

Detailed ultrastructure of the Hirudo (Annelida: Hirudinea) salivary gland.

Medical leeches have been widely used in medical applications and treatments for millennia. Studies on the salivary glands of blood-sucking leeches have focused on their bioactive secretions and mechanisms of action, with little attention to ultrastructure. In this study, we examined dissected embryonic and adult Hirudo verbana salivary glands by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Structural Evolution of the Glacier Ice Worm F ATP Synthase Complex.

The segmented annelid worm, Mesenchytraeus solifugus, is a permanent resident of temperate, maritime glaciers in the Pacific northwestern region of North America, displaying atypically high intracellular ATP levels which have been linked to its unusual ability to thrive in hydrated glacier ice. We have shown previously that ice worms contain a highly basic, carboxy terminal extension on their ATP6 regulatory subunit, likely acquired by horizontal gene transfer from a microbial dietary source. Here we examine the full complement of FF ATP synthase structural subunits with attention to non-conservative, ice worm-specific structural modifications.

Correct spelling of a recently described species of Helobdella (Annelida: Clitellata: Hirudinea).

In a recently published article (Saglam et al. 2018) the name of a new species of Hirudinea (Annelida, Clitellata) was simultaneously published in three different ways, as Helobdella serendipitious (Saglam et al. 2018: 61, 70, 71, 73), Helobdella serendipitous (ibid.

Disappearing Kilimanjaro snow-Are we the last generation to explore equatorial glacier biodiversity?

Glaciation accompanied our human ancestors in Africa throughout the Pleistocene. Regrettably, equatorial glaciers and snow are disappearing rapidly, and we are likely the last generation who will get to know these peculiar places. Despite the permanently harsh conditions of glacier/snow habitats, they support a remarkable diversity of life ranging from bacteria to animals.

Long-distance dispersal, ice sheet dynamics and mountaintop isolation underlie the genetic structure of glacier ice worms.

Disentangling the contemporary and historical factors underlying the spatial distributions of species is a central goal of biogeography. For species with broad distributions but little capacity to actively disperse, disconnected geographical distributions highlight the potential influence of passive, long-distance dispersal (LDD) on their evolutionary histories. However, dispersal alone cannot completely account for the biogeography of any species, and other factors-e.

Atypical Evolution of the FF Adenosine Triphosphate Synthase Regulatory ATP6 subunit in Glacier Ice Worms (Annelida: Clitellata: ).

The glacier ice worm, , is among a few animals that reside permanently in glacier ice. Their adaptation to cold temperature has been linked to relatively high intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, which compensate for reductions in molecular motion at low physiological temperatures. Here, we show that ATP6-the critical regulatory subunit of the F1Fo-ATP synthase and primary target of mitochondrial disease-acquired an unprecedented histidine-rich, 18-amino acid carboxy-terminal extension, which counters the strong evolutionary trend of mitochondrial genome compaction.

Phylogenetic and morphological resolution of the Helobdella stagnalis species-complex (Annelida: Clitellata: Hirudinea).

The glossiphoniid freshwater leech, Helobdella stagnalis, was described by Linnaeus 1758 based on common European specimens. The presence of a brown, chitinous scute on the dorsal-anterior surface, as observed on leeches elsewhere in the world, has generally led to the classification of all scute-bearing members of the genus as H. stagnalis.

Phylogeny and cocoon production in the parasitic leech Myzobdella lugubris Leidy, 1851 (Hirudinidae, Piscicolidae).

Myzobdella lugubris is a commensal leech on crustaceans and a parasite to fishes, surviving predominantly in brackish waters throughout North America. Specimens in this study were collected within the tidal zone of the Delaware River basin (New Jersey and Pennsylvania). To compare regional M.

Elaborate ultrastructure of the Hirudo (Annelida: Hirudinae) cocoon surface.

Species of medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis, H. verbana, and H. sulukii) secrete hard-shelled cocoons.

Punctuated invasion of water, ice, snow and terrestrial ecozones by segmented worms (Oligochaeta: Enchytraeidae: ).

Segmented worms (Annelida) are among the most successful animal inhabitants of extreme environments worldwide. An unusual group of enchytraeid oligochaetes of genus are abundant in the Pacific northwestern region of North America and occupy geographically proximal ecozones ranging from low elevation rainforests and waterways to high altitude glaciers. Along this altitudinal transect, representatives from disparate habitat types were collected and subjected to deep mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenetic analyses.

Erratum to: Electrostatic forces drive poleward chromosome motions at kinetochores.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13008-016-0026-1.].

Electrostatic forces drive poleward chromosome motions at kinetochores.

Background: Recent experiments regarding Ndc80/Hec1 in force generation at kinetochores for chromosome motions have prompted speculation about possible models for interactions between positively charged molecules at kinetochores and negative charge at and near the plus ends of microtubules.

Discussion: A clear picture of how kinetochores and centrosomes establish and maintain a dynamic coupling to microtubules for force generation during the complex motions of mitosis remains elusive. The current paradigm of molecular cell biology requires that specific molecules, or molecular geometries, for force generation be identified.

Mechanics of cocoon secretion in a segmented worm (Annelida: Hirudinidae).

Clitellate annelids (e.g., segmented earthworms, leeches) secrete proteinaceous cocoons into which eggs are deposited.

Colonization of maritime glacier ice by bdelloid Rotifera.

Very few animal taxa are known to reside permanently in glacier ice/snow. Here we report the widespread colonization of Icelandic glaciers and ice fields by species of bdelloid Rotifera. Specimens were collected within the accumulation zones of Langjökull and Vatnajökull ice caps, among the largest European ice masses.

Polar electrostatic forces drive poleward chromosome motions.

Recent experiments revealing nanoscale electrostatic force generation at kinetochores for chromosome motions have prompted models for interactions between positively charged molecules in kinetochores and negative charge at and near the plus ends of microtubules. A clear picture of how kinetochores and centrosomes establish and maintain a dynamic coupling to microtubules for force generation during the complex motions of mitosis remains elusive. The molecular cell biology paradigm requires that specific molecules, or molecular geometries, for polar force generation be identified.

Chromosome congression explained by nanoscale electrostatics.

Nanoscale electrostatic microtubule disassembly forces between positively charged molecules in kinetochores and negative charges on plus ends of microtubules have been implicated in poleward chromosome motions and may also contribute to antipoleward chromosome movements. We propose that chromosome congression can be understood in terms of antipoleward nanoscale electrostatic microtubule assembly forces between negatively charged microtubule plus ends and like-charged chromosome arms, acting in conjunction with poleward microtubule disassembly forces. Several other aspects of post-attachment prometaphase chromosome motions, as well as metaphase oscillations, are consistently explained within this framework.