An overview of Melanommataceae (Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes): Current insight into the host associations and geographical distribution with some interesting novel additions from plant litter.

Melanommataceous species exhibit high diversity with a cosmopolitan distribution worldwide and show a prominent saprobic lifestyle. In this study, we explored five saprobic species collected from plant litter substrates from terrestrial habitats in China and Thailand. A combination of morphological characteristics and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses was used to determine their taxonomic classifications.

The structure of the human 80S ribosome at 1.9 Å resolution reveals the molecular role of chemical modifications and ions in RNA.

The ribosomal RNA of the human protein synthesis machinery comprises numerous chemical modifications that are introduced during ribosome biogenesis. Here we present the 1.9 Å resolution cryo electron microscopy structure of the 80S human ribosome resolving numerous new ribosomal RNA modifications and functionally important ions such as Zn, K and Mg, including their associated individual water molecules.

A taxonomic assessment of novel and remarkable fungal species in () from plant litter.

Fungal taxonomy has a long history and changed significantly in the last few decades. Most recent studies have witnessed morphology combined with DNA-based molecular analyses as the main research tool for fungal species identification. During field surveys, some interesting species were found from plant litter in China and Thailand.

Fungal diversity notes 1512-1610: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa.

This article is the 14th in the Fungal Diversity Notes series, wherein we report 98 taxa distributed in two phyla, seven classes, 26 orders and 50 families which are described and illustrated. Taxa in this study were collected from Australia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, Cyprus, Egypt, France, French Guiana, India, Indonesia, Italy, Laos, Mexico, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. There are 59 new taxa, 39 new hosts and new geographical distributions with one new combination.

Phylogeny and morphology of Lasiodiplodia species associated with Magnolia forest plants.

Two new species of Lasiodiplodia (Lasiodiplodia endophytica and Lasiodiplodia magnoliae) are described and illustrated from Magnolia forests in Yunnan, China. Endophytic and saprobic Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae and endophytic L. thailandica are new records from this host.

Compromised periodontal status in an urban Sri Lankan population with type 2 diabetes.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of periodontitis in an urban population of Sri Lankans with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and to compare the data with those from a population of adults without diabetes.

Methods: Demographic data and a diabetes profile were recorded for a population of urban Sri Lankan adults with T2DM including duration of diabetes, blood pressure; percentage glycosylated haemoglobin, fasting blood glucose level, total cholesterol; triglycerides, low- and high-density lipoproteins. The clinical examination comprised an oral soft tissue examination, full-mouth probing depths (PD), gingival recession (GR), clinical attachment levels and bleeding on probing (BoP).

Challenges in recruiting older twins for the Sri Lankan twin registry.

The National Twin Registry of Sri Lanka was established in 1997 as a volunteer register. To extend it to a population-based register, we examined the effectiveness of tracing older twins by inspecting birth records and recruiting them by postal invitation and in-person contact. Birth records at a divisional secretariat reported from 2 maternity hospitals between the years of 1954-1970 were scrutinised to identify a random sample of twins.

Sri Lankan Twin Registry.

Sri Lanka is an island with genetic diversity between the five main population groups. Our twin registry is the first in the developing world. Initially, we established a volunteer cohort of 4600 twin pairs through a competition advertised in the media.