A two-locus molecular characterization of Paramecium calkinsi.

Paramecium calkinsi (Ciliophora, Protozoa) is a euryhaline species which was first identified in freshwater habitats, but subsequently several strains were also collected from brackish water. It is characterized by clockwise spiral swimming movement and the general morphology of the "bursaria type." The present paper is the first molecular characterization of P.

Polymorphism of Paramecium pentaurelia (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) strains revealed by rDNA and mtDNA sequences.

Paramecium pentaurelia is one of 15 known sibling species of the Paramecium aurelia complex. It is recognized as a species showing no intra-specific differentiation on the basis of molecular fingerprint analyses, whereas the majority of other species are polymorphic. This study aimed at assessing genetic polymorphism within P.

Seasonal and geographical distribution of cave-dwelling bats in Romania: implications for conservation.

Caves offer bats refuges for hibernation, breeding and other social events. Their quality is important for species distribution. The role of cave microclimate as well as other environmental factors influencing the distribution of cave-dwelling species, is poorly known.

Molecular approach to the systematics of European Tortricini (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).

Tortricini is a cosmopolitan tribe of the subfamily Tortricinae of the lepidopteran family Tortricidae. The most recent systematic of Tortricini are based on the external morphology of imagines and the structure of their genital organs. The present paper is the first comparative molecular study of the representatives of this tribe.

New, world-wide data on the distribution of species of the Paramecium aurelia complex (Ciliophora, Protozoa).

This is the first report on the presence of P. biaurelia in Tasmania, an island that has probably never been investigated before for the occurrence of the P. aurelia species.

Species of the Paramecium aurelia complex in Italy.

New stands of Paramecium pentaurelia were recorded in Valmarana, Veneto region in Italy and one stand of P. primaurelia was found at the same locality.

Paramecium sexaurelia--intra-specific polymorphism and relationships with other Paramecium aurelia spp., revealed by cytochrome b sequence data.

Genetic distances among strains of P. sexaurelia were compared by sequencing the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. The relationships of P.

Does reduced MHC diversity decrease viability of vertebrate populations?

Loss of genetic variation may render populations more vulnerable to pathogens due to inbreeding depression and depletion of variation in genes responsible for immunity against parasites. Here we review the evidence for the significance of variation in genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) for conservation efforts. MHC molecules present pathogen-derived antigens to the effector cells of the immune system and thus trigger the adaptive immune response.

Genetic constitution of parthenogenetic form of Polydrusus inustus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)--hints of hybrid origin and recombinations.

Asexual reproduction among insects may arise spontaneously, as a result of infectious agents or hybridization between phylogenetically distinct organisms. Polyploidy, which may be the result of auto- or allopoliploidization (also associated with hybridization), is often connected with parthenogenesis. However, all studied parthenogens of weevils were apomictic, rare meiotic stages have been observed in a few of them what could suggests in their genomes besides the mutational changeability also recombination may occurs.

Karyology of parthenogenetic weevils (Coleoptera, Curculionidae): do meiotic prophase stages occur?

We investigated the cytological mechanism of parthenogenesis by analyzing the chromosomes in five weevil species. All examined species are polyploids, four of which: Otiorhynchus ovatus, Simo variegates, Cathormiocerus aristatus, and Tropiphorus elevatus possess three haploid sets of chromosomes (3n=33), whereas the fifth, Trachyphloeus parallelus, is tetraploid with 44 chromosomes (4n=44). The plates contained 27-31 chromosomes in triploid species and 38, 39, 41 and even 44 in tetraploid T.

First stand of Paramecium octaurelia in Europe and molecular characteristics of other known strains of this species.

The first stand of Paramecium octaurelia in Europe (Germany) is described and interesting intra-specific polymorphism is compared within the species using strains originating from different continents (Europe, N. America and Asia). Sequenced fragments of 5' LSU rDNA and COI mtDNA revealed that the studied strains form two groups, one with strains from Germany and USA, and a second group from Israel.

Molecular polymorphism of Paramecium tetraurelia (Ciliophora, Protozoa) in strains originating from different continents.

Fragments of LSU rDNA and COI mtDNA genes were sequenced in Paramecium tetraurelia strains originating from different continents, i.e. from Australia (Sydney), Europe (Spain, Poland), Asia (Israel, India, Japan) and North America (Indiana) in order to investigate intra-specific polymorphism in this species.

Glucose, sorbitol and insulin as exogenous agents that monitor the interautogamous interval (IAI) in Paramecium primaurelia.

Results from previous studies have revealed that the duration of the interautogamous interval (IAI), expressed as the number of fissions occurring between two successive autogamies, is stable and characteristic for species of the Paramecium aurelia complex (Kósciuszko & Prajer 1988; Prajer & Kościuszko 1999). The duration of the IAI is genetically controlled (Kościuszko & Prajer 1989; Mikami & Koizumi 1983). Genomic mutations (Prajer & Kościuszko 1999; Takagi et al.

Cytogenetic variability of European tettigoniinae (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae); karyotypes, C- and Ag-NOR-banding.

Karyotypes, C-banding pattern and localization ofnucleolus organizer regions (NORs) in 34 European species and subspecies belonging to the subfamily Tettigoniinae are described (the karyotypes of 26 species for the first time). In the males chromosome numbers vary from 2n=33 to 2n=23 and Fundamental Numbers (FN) from 36 to 27. The highest number of chromosomes for this group, 2nmale=33 (FN=33), was found in Psorodonotus illyricus macedonicus.

Meiotic karyotypes and structure of testes of nineteen species of jumping-lice (Hemiptera, Psylloidea) from South Africa.

The karyotypes of 19 species of Psylloidea from South Africa belonging to subfamilies Paurocephalinae, Euphyllurinae, Diaphorininae, Euphalerinae, Acizziinae, Ciriacreminae (Psyllidae), Calophyinae (Calophyidae) and Triozinae (Triozidae) were studied for the first time. In 16 species the modal diploid number of chromosomes was found to be 2n=24+X, while 3 species have other chromosome numbers. In Colophorina sp.

New European stands of Paramecium pentaurelia, Paramecium septaurelia, and Paramecium dodecaurelia, genetic and molecular studies.

New stands of rare species of the Paramecium aurelia complex were found in Europe, i.e. P.

Molecular analysis (RAPD-PCR) of inter-strain hybrids of the Paramecium aurelia species complex (Ciliophora, Protozoa).

RAPD-PCR analysis showed that species of the Paramecium aurelia complex possessed characteristic band patterns and that the majority were also polymorphic intra-specifically. A comparison of band patterns was performed for some inter-strain hybrids within P. primaurelia, P.

Molecular studies on intraspecific differentiation of Paramecium dodecaurelia, with description of new stands of the species (Protozoa, Ciliophora).

New stands of Paramecium dodecaurelia were found in Russia, Ukraine, Kazahstan, Poland, and Tenerife. Molecular studies (RAPD and sequencing of LSU rRNA and CO1 mtDNA gene fragments) of P. dodecaurelia strains depicted intraspecific polymorphism within the species, revealed as distinct differences between strains from the USA in comparison with strains from different regions of the Palearctic.

Karyotypes and chromosome rearrangements in two tribes of weevils (Coleoptera, Curculionidae: Sciaphilini and Braehydrini).

A description of karyotypes in two tribes of weevils, Sciaphilini and Brachyderini, was carried out with a discussion on the main trends of chromosomal evolution occurring in these groups. Some important cytological characteristics, such as chromosome morphology, sex determination type, pattern of male meiosis, B chromosome occurrence, as well as C-heterochromatin, NOR localization, and fluorochrome AT and GC specific staining are presented. The chromosome numbers and morphology in the two tribes of weevils are highly conserved.

Polymorphism of the genus Isophya (Orthoptera, Phaneropteridae, Barbitistinae) revealed by RAPD.

The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD-PCR) method was used to study the genetic polymorphism of 20 species of the genus Isophya. Each primer amplified a different set of DNA fragments, all oligonucleotides failed to generate any specific diagnostic band that could lead to the identification of Isophya species, and none of the amplified fragments were present in all species. RAPD markers detected a high level of polymorphism in all species.

New stands of Paramecium tetraurelia (Ciliophora, Protozoa) in Australia and Europe.

New stands of Paramecium tetraurelia were revealed in Australia (Melbourne) and Europe (Spain, Madrid).

Genetic and epigenetic factors affecting meiosis induction in eukaryotes revealed in paramecium research.

This review presents studies of the induction of meiosis undertaken on the ciliate Paramecium, a unicellular model eukaryotic organism. Meiosis in Paramecium, preceding the process of fertilization, appears in starved cells after passing a defined number of divisions (cell generations), starting from the last fertilization. Investigations were performed on clones of cells entering autogamy, a self-fertilization process.

Strains of Paramecium decaurelia (Ciliophora, Protozoa) from Russia with molecular characteristics of other known strains of the species.

The presence of Paramecium decaurelia from the Paramecium aurelia species complex was demonstrated in Yaroslavl, Russia, (European part, northwestern Russia) and in the Altai Mts (Asiatic part of Russia, western Siberia). RAPD-PCR fingerprints of the newly identified strains of P. decaurelia, rare throughout the world, were compared to those characteristic for the other known strains ofthe species.

Polymorphism within Paramecium sexaurelia (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) and description of a new stand of the species in China.

The presence of Paramecium sexaurelia from the Paramecium aurelia complex was recorded for the first time in China (Beijing). RAPD fingerprints (band patterns) of P. sexaurelia strains, the new strain from China and others from Asia, as well as from Europe and Puerto Rico, showed polymorphism within the species as several groups of genotypes characterized by different band patterns.

New data on the cytology of parthenogenetic weevils (Coleoptera, Curculionidae).

Parthenogenesis and, in particular, polyploidy are rare in animals. A number of cases, known among weevils, represent apomictic parthenogenesis--a reproductive mode in which eggs undergo one maturation division, the chromosomes divide equationally, and no reduction takes place. Among parthenogenetic weevils there are two diploids, 48 triploids, 18 tetraploids, six pentaploids, three hexaploids and one decaploid.