Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Anna Schroeder, Elisa Camatti, Marco Pansera, Alberto Pallavicini
Summary: With an increased interest in understanding the ecology and potential impacts of the invasive comb jellyfish Mnemiopsis leidyi, a study investigated its gut contents in the Venice Lagoon using DNA metabarcoding. The study revealed that M. leidyi blooms in late summer and feeds on a variety of prey, mostly coinciding with the zooplankton assemblage. Some groups, such as decapod larvae and slow-swimming larvae of gastropods and bivalves, appear to be favored, while copepods had a higher relative abundance in the in-situ community.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2023)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Allison Edgar, Dorothy G. Mitchell, Mark Q. Martindale
Summary: Ctenophores, including Mnemiopsis leidyi, exhibit varied regenerative abilities within the group. M. leidyi is known for its rapid wound healing, tissue replacement, and stereotyped development, making it a popular model for research. While some cell signaling pathways related to regeneration in other animals are absent in ctenophores, further research may provide insights into ancient regenerative principles or novel solutions for cell fate stability and whole-body regeneration.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Paolo Paliaga, Andrea Budis, Jelena Dautovic, Tamara Djakovac, Mathieu Andre Dutour-Sikiric, Hrvoje Mihanovic, Nastjenjka Supic, Igor Celic, Neven Ivesa, Moira Bursic, Ivan Balkovic, Lara Jurkovic, Irena Ciglenecki
Summary: The seasonal blooms of invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Adriatic Sea affect the ecosystem and release significant quantities of dissolved organic carbon, supporting microbial activity. The presence of M. leidyi influences the abundance of microbial groups and results in changes in concentrations of organic carbon.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Jason S. Presnell, William E. Browne
Summary: In the embryogenesis of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi, the role of Zygotic Klf genes was assessed using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing and splice-blocking morpholino oligonucleotide knockdown approaches. Inhibition of Zygotic Klf expression during M. leidyi embryogenesis resulted in abnormal development of several organs, indicating a potential ancient role of Klf genes in regulating endodermal patterning through control of cell proliferation.
Article
Fisheries
Andrea Budisa, Paolo Paliaga, Tea Juretic, Davor Lucic, Nastjenjka Supic, Zoran Pasaric, Tamara Djakovac, Marija Mladinic, Vlado Dadic, Vjekoslav Ticina
Summary: Invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi can have significant impacts on fish stocks and marine food webs in the Adriatic Sea. The study revealed that Mnemiopsis leidyi accumulates in nutrient-rich areas and competes with anchovy for zooplankton, leading to a decrease in anchovy populations. The findings highlight the importance of implementing an international monitoring program in the Adriatic Sea and demonstrate the effectiveness of current surveys in detecting changes in the pelagic ecosystem.
MEDITERRANEAN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biology
M. I. Silakov, A. V. Kuznetsov, A. V. Temnykh, B. E. Anninsky
Summary: We investigated the behavioral responses of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi to different colors of light. The results showed that the ctenophores tended to leave the illumination zone when laser light was directed to their aboral organ. The blue-light reaction was six times faster than the red-light reaction. Cluster analysis revealed three preferential behavioral strategies for avoiding laser irradiation.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Guillaume Marchessaux, Bruno Belloni, Justine Gadreaud, Delphine Thibault
Summary: Since 2000, the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi has been found in Mediterranean brackish lagoons, but quantitative data on its feeding behavior in these environments are lacking. This study reveals that the feeding activity of ctenophores is influenced by their biovolume and temperature, with seasonal changes in diet impacting the zooplankton assemblage and potentially contributing to eutrophication in the lagoon.
JOURNAL OF PLANKTON RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Tigran P. Norekian, Leonid L. Moroz
Summary: Ctenophores are descendants of an early branching basal metazoan lineage that may have evolved neurons and muscles independently. The neuromuscular system development in Mnemiopsis is similar to Pleurobrachia, but faster. Adult Mnemiopsis exhibits distinct neuronal populations in the feeding lobes and auricles, unique to the Lobata clade.
JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Wael A. Fathy, Natascha Techen, Khaled N. M. Elsayed, Ehab A. Essawy, Eman Tawfik, Khairiah Mubarak Alwutayd, Mohamed S. Abdelhameed, Ola Hammouda, Samir A. Ross
Summary: The absence of proper identification and documentation of microalgae is a common concern in the field of applied phycology, algal physiology, and biochemistry publications. A promising solution lies in employing DNA barcoding techniques and establishing comprehensive databases of reference sequences. This study focuses on the molecular characterization and strain identification of Tetraselmis and Chlorella species using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) barcode approach.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Shuqian Hu, Xiang Li, Xin Yin, Runmeng Li, Ruiyang Zhang, Junhao Zang, Yin Liu
Summary: This study developed a species-specific method for identification and classification of Pseudomonas based on ITS sequences combined with next-generation sequencing (NGS).
Article
Microbiology
Fernando Martinez-Hernandez, Fabiola Sanchez-Aguillon, Joel Martinez-Ocana, Nelly Raquel Gonzalez-Arenas, Mirza Romero-Valdovinos, Eduardo Lopez-Escamilla, Pablo Maravilla, Guiehdani Villalobos
Summary: This study evaluated the genetic variability of the ITS region and pfor A gene of Trichomonas vaginalis from female patients and explored its implications in the host-parasite relationship. Results showed two main clusters in the ITS haplotypes and suggested that pfor A could be used as a marker for confirming trichomonads genus and species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Abdelrahman Saleem, Amany A. El-Shahir
Summary: The study isolated Alternaria fungi from infected tomato fruits using baiting technique and confirmed their species through morphological identification and gene sequencing. It was found that four out of five Alternaria species produced mycotoxins, with Alternaria alternata being the most active species, producing three types of toxins.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Alice Giusti, Enrica Ricci, Laura Gasperetti, Marta Galgani, Luca Polidori, Francesco Verdigi, Roberto Narducci, Andrea Armani
Summary: This study aimed to build an ITS gene dataset to aid the Italian Health Service in mushroom identification. By retrieving and filtering ITS sequences from GenBank and BOLD databases, as well as collecting wild specimens, a dataset of 5977 sequences was successfully established to support regional poisoning cases.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Hadi Poorbagher, Zekiye Birinci-Ozdemir, Soheil Eagderi, Erdogan Cicek
Summary: Species distribution models were used to predict the spatial distribution of Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Black Sea and determine its presence probability. The results showed high accuracy of the model, with photosynthetically active radiation and sea surface temperature identified as the most important predictors. The study also revealed high probability of presence in the northern Black Sea and certain coastal areas of Turkey.
Article
Microbiology
Irene Njeri Koima, Dora Chao Kilalo, Charles O. O. Orek, John Maina Wagacha, Evans N. N. Nyaboga
Summary: This study aimed to identify and characterize the species of Colletotrichum associated with anthracnose in sorghum and screen sorghum germplasm for resistance to anthracnose. The study found a high diversity of Colletotrichum pathogens, all belonging to the genus Colletotrichum. Some sorghum genotypes showed resistance to anthracnose. The findings from this study are important for devising effective disease control strategies and resistance breeding.
Biographical-Item
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Dan L. Danielopol, Melania E. Cristescu
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Emily A. Brown, Frederic J. J. Chain, Aibin Zhan, Hugh J. MacIsaac, Melania E. Cristescu
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2016)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jullien M. Flynn, Frederic J. J. Chain, Daniel J. Schoen, Melania E. Cristescu
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2017)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jullien M. Flynn, Ian Caldas, Melania E. Cristescu, Andrew G. Clark
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jullien M. Flynn, Ian Caldas, Melania E. Cristescu, Andrew G. Clark
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Guang K. Zhang, Frederic J. J. Chain, Cathryn L. Abbott, Melania E. Cristescu
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Frederic J. J. Chain, Jullien M. Flynn, James K. Bull, Melania E. Cristescu
Review
Evolutionary Biology
Alessandra Loria, Melania E. Cristescu, Andrew Gonzalez
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2019)
Article
Ecology
James S. Sinclair, Shelley E. Arnott, Katie L. Millette, Melania E. Cristescu
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
M. C. Yates, D. M. Glaser, J. R. Post, M. E. Cristescu, D. J. Fraser, A. M. Derry
Summary: Estimation of organism abundance is challenging in ecology. A study integrating allometric scaling coefficients into models of eDNA concentration and abundance demonstrated that individual body size distribution can influence population-level eDNA production rates. Incorporating allometric scaling may improve predictive models of eDNA concentration as an indicator of abundance in nature.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joanne E. Littlefair, Lee E. Hrenchuk, Paul J. Blanchfield, Michael D. Rennie, Melania E. Cristescu
Summary: Significant progress has been made in surveying animal and plant communities using environmental DNA (eDNA), but there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of the ecology of eDNA. This study tested how seasonal thermal stratification and animal habitat preferences influence the distribution of eDNA in lakes, finding that eDNA distribution is related to the thermal niches of species and seasonal thermal structure. This research contributes to our overall understanding of eDNA ecology in lake ecosystems.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anastasija Zaiko, Paul Greenfield, Cathryn Abbott, Ulla von Ammon, Jaret Bilewitch, Michael Bunce, Melania E. Cristescu, Anthony Chariton, Eddy Dowle, Jonathan Geller, Alba Ardura Gutierrez, Mehrdad Hajibabaei, Emmet Haggard, Graeme J. Inglis, Shane D. Lavery, Aurelija Samuiloviene, Tiffany Simpson, Michael Stat, Sarah Stephenson, Judy Sutherland, Vibha Thakur, Kristen Westfall, Susanna A. Wood, Michael Wright, Guang Zhang, Xavier Pochon
Summary: Advances in high-throughput sequencing technology are changing marine monitoring by enabling rapid and accurate detection of species in complex samples. An international experiment showed that while there was variation in results from different laboratories, the primary signal in the data was consistent, with samples grouping by geographical origin. Post hoc data clean-up, such as removing low-quality samples, improved sample classification accuracy significantly.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Alessandra Loria, Melania E. Cristescu, Andrew Gonzalez
Summary: The experiment shows that genotypic diversity can extend the persistence of Daphnia populations, but copper contamination leads to substantial genetic erosion. Some Cu-treated populations, mostly multiclonal, exhibit partial growth patterns but do not result in lasting population recovery.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kaushar Kagzi, Robert M. Hechler, Gregor F. Fussmann, Melania E. Cristescu
Summary: This study investigates the degradation of environmental DNA (eDNA) and environmental RNA (eRNA) under different pH conditions. The results show that eRNA decays more rapidly than eDNA, and eDNA degrades more slowly under acidic conditions. This study provides a basis for assessing the persistence and degradation dynamics of eRNA and eDNA under ecologically relevant pH conditions.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joanne E. Littlefair, Michael D. Rennie, Melania E. Cristescu
Summary: This study evaluates the potential of environmental RNA (eRNA) released by macroeukaryotes as a biomonitoring tool. The results show that eRNA can be filtered from water and reliably provide species composition information through metabarcoding analysis. Compared to eDNA, eRNA has a higher true positive rate, making it a promising addition to the suite of molecular monitoring tools.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)