A new species of the uropeltid (shieldtail snake) genus Rhinophis is described based on a type series of seven specimens from the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats of peninsular India. The holotype was collected before 1880 but had been misidentified as the phenotypically similar and parapatric (possibly partly sympatric) R. sanguineus. Rhinophis karinthandani sp. nov. is diagnosed by a combination of 15 dorsal scale rows at midbody, 4-8 pairs of subcaudal scales, colour pattern (uniformly dark above, whitish below with extensive dark mottling), and by its distinct mitochondrial DNA sequences (e.g. 7.6% uncorrected p-distance for nd4). Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequence data indicates that the new species is most closely related to R. sanguineus among currently recognised species, with this pair most closely related to the partly sympatric R. melanoleucus. The new species description brings the number of currently recognised species in the genus to 24, six of which are endemic to India and 18 endemic to Sri Lanka. A new key to the identification of Indian species of Rhinophis is provided.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4881.1.1 | DOI Listing |
Proteins
January 2025
Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India.
Vector-borne diseases pose a severe threat to human life, contributing significantly to global mortality. Understanding the structure-function relationship of the vector proteins is pivotal for effective insecticide development due to their involvement in drug resistance and disease transmission. This study reports the structural and dynamic features of D1-like dopamine receptors (DARs) in disease-causing mosquito species, such as Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles gambiae, and Anopheles stephensi.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFParasit Vectors
January 2025
Diptera Section, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Background: The detection of multiple bluetongue virus serotypes, increasing trend in livestock density, rich biological diversity with high endemism, and the status of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a popular tourist destination underscore the need for a faunistic survey of medically and veterinary significant vector species, specifically Culicoides, in this region. Moreover, scattered information on Indian Culicoides species complicates the planning and implementation of preventive measures for pathogens transmitted by these vectors. This study aims to provide the first comprehensive account of the Culicoides fauna in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, along with an updated checklist of Indian Culicoides species and their state-wise distribution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Biol Macromol
January 2025
Centre for Conservation and Utilization of Blue Green Algae, Division of Microbiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India. Electronic address:
Polysaccharides, found universally in all living-species, exhibit diverse biochemical structures and play crucial roles in microorganisms, animals, and plants to defend against pathogens, environmental stress and climate-changing. Microbial exopolysaccharides are essential for cell adhesion and stress resilience and using them has notable advantages over synthetic polysaccharides. Exopolysaccharides have versatile structures and physicochemical properties, used in food systems, therapeutics, cosmetics, agriculture, and polymer industries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Food Microbiol
January 2025
Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-58, Rinkuourai-kita, Izumisano, Osaka 598-8531, Japan; Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan; Asian Health Science Research Institute, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan; Osaka International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Osaka Metropolitan University, 1-58, Rinkuourai-kita, Izumisano, Osaka 598-8531, Japan. Electronic address:
Since cefixime and tellurite are known to inhibit most bacteria belonging to Enterobacterales, we found that addition of tellurite inhibited E. albertii growth in Luria Bertani broth but not in tryptic soy broth (TSB), and addition of phosphate and soy peptone enhanced E. albertii growth in TSB in presence of tellurite.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFZoonoses Public Health
January 2025
Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur University, Napaam, Assam, India.
Introduction: Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is a life-threatening disease, especially in the Indian subcontinent. Knowledge about the nature and ecology of the dispersal of JE virus (JEV) vectors needs to be increased. This study mechanistically explores the ecology of JEV vectors and the mode and frequency of occurrence of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and JEV infections.
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