00504nas a2200145 4500008004100000245009200041210006900133300001400202490000700216100001700223700002000240700001800260700001700278856006300295 2017 eng d00aA new species of Polycelis (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Planariidae) from China0 anew species of iPolycelisi Platyhelminthes Tricladida Planariida a263–2760 v631 aDong, Zi-Mei1 aChen, Guang-Wen1 aZhang, He-Cai1 aLiu, De-Zeng uhttp://actazool.nhmus.hu/63/3/ActaZH_2017_Vol_63_3_263.pdf01886nas a2200157 4500008004100000245015000041210006900191300001100260520126200271100003201533700001801565700002401583700002601607700002001633856007501653 2017 eng d00aA new species of freshwater flatworm (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Dendrocoelidae) inhabiting a chemoautotrophic groundwater ecosystem in Romania0 anew species of freshwater flatworm Platyhelminthes Tricladida De a1–213 a

We report the description of a new species of freshwater flatworm of the genus Dendrocoelum inhabiting the chemoautotrophic ecosystem of Movile Cave as well as several sulfidic wells in the nearby town of Mangalia, thus representing the first planarian species fully described from this extreme biotope. The species was also found in non-sulfidic wells localized in villages in the vicinity of the cave with a total of nine examined populations. Dendrocoelum obstinatum Stocchino & Sluys, sp. nov. represents the first triclad being able to live in both sulfidic and non-sulfidic waters. Among the fauna of the Mangalia sulfidic ecosystem it is the only species found also outside of the current boundaries of the sulfidic aquifer. One possible explanation of this peculiar distribution is that the new species is limited to the old boundaries of the sulfidic aquifer. The latter became much smaller during the hydrogeological history of the region, so that D. obstinatum may be considered to be an indicator of the extension of the sulfidic aquifer in the past of the Mangalia region. In the context of a biogeographic discussion on the distribution of the genus Dendrocoelum we provide an annotated checklist of species reported from Romania.

1 aStocchino, Giacinta, Angela1 aSluys, Ronald1 aKawakatsu, Masaharu1 aSarbu, Serban, Mircea1 aManconi, Renata uhttp://www.europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/46704186nas a2200157 4500008004100000020001400041245012500055210006900180300001200249490000700261520364000268100002303908700002203931700002303953856005203976 2017 eng d a0270-506000aPopulation genetics and dispersal of the flatworm, Polycelis coronata: a test of the habitat stability hypothesis0 aPopulation genetics and dispersal of the flatworm iPolycelis cor a179-1920 v323 a

ABSTRACTThe habitat stability hypothesis states that species in spring-like habitats have little reason to disperse compared to species in temporary habitats. Planarians commonly inhabit springs around the world and they have long been considered poor dispersers. Recently, however, genetic analyses have shown contradictory results on the dispersal of planarians. Asexual planarians that can establish a new population by colonization of a single individual showed little genetic differentiation between sites separated by hundreds of kilometers, whereas species inhabiting springs showed deep differentiation between sites separated by hundreds of meters. The latter results are consistent with the habitat stability hypothesis. We used the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene from 468 individuals of Polycelis coronata, an asexual species, collected from 50 sites, nested in 26 tributaries, in 4 catchments of the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, USA, to explore the dispersal capabilities of P. coronata. The longest distance between sites was 66 km. Despite this small spatial extent, we found that 77% of the 130 haplotypes were collected from a single site and 89% from a single catchment. FST values between local populations in the same tributary (0.221, 0.266, 0.389) were similar to the average FST values in different catchments for other headwater taxa. Also, variation among individuals accounted for the majority of genetic structuring with little differentiation beyond the scale of a single site. Dispersal is very slow in this species which is consistent with the habitat stability hypothesis. However, we suggest that other explanations also warrant consideration. We also identified two potential cryptic species suggesting a high degree of hidden variation at the level of species in this genus.ABSTRACTThe habitat stability hypothesis states that species in spring-like habitats have little reason to disperse compared to species in temporary habitats. Planarians commonly inhabit springs around the world and they have long been considered poor dispersers. Recently, however, genetic analyses have shown contradictory results on the dispersal of planarians. Asexual planarians that can establish a new population by colonization of a single individual showed little genetic differentiation between sites separated by hundreds of kilometers, whereas species inhabiting springs showed deep differentiation between sites separated by hundreds of meters. The latter results are consistent with the habitat stability hypothesis. We used the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene from 468 individuals of Polycelis coronata, an asexual species, collected from 50 sites, nested in 26 tributaries, in 4 catchments of the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, USA, to explore the dispersal capabilities of P. coronata. The longest distance between sites was 66 km. Despite this small spatial extent, we found that 77% of the 130 haplotypes were collected from a single site and 89% from a single catchment. FST values between local populations in the same tributary (0.221, 0.266, 0.389) were similar to the average FST values in different catchments for other headwater taxa. Also, variation among individuals accounted for the majority of genetic structuring with little differentiation beyond the scale of a single site. Dispersal is very slow in this species which is consistent with the habitat stability hypothesis. However, we suggest that other explanations also warrant consideration. We also identified two potential cryptic species suggesting a high degree of hidden variation at the level of species in this genus.

1 aRader, Russell, B.1 aUnmack, Peter, J.1 aMoore, Jeffrey, N. uhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02705060.2016.125362401964nas a2200145 4500008004100000022001400041245019300055210006900248260001600317520137800333100001801711700002301729700001401752856005201766 2017 eng d a1678-437500aPolyploidy as a chromosomal component of stochastic noise: variable scalar multiples of the diploid chromosome complement in the invertebrate species Girardia schubarti from Brazil.0 aPolyploidy as a chromosomal component of stochastic noise variab c2017 Jun 123 a

Chromosome stoichiometry, a form of genetic plasticity, specifically refers to variation in the standard diploid genomic composition of an individual or species. In the present work, freshwater planarians (Girardia schubarti) were analyzed to recognize variations in chromosomal stoichiometry especially of complete ploidal change between specimens, within specimens and between cells within specimens and any relations they might have with selected components of phenotypic plasticity. Homoploid polyploids for the group reached rational scalar multiples (e.g. tetraploids) or irrational scalar multiples (e.g. triploids). Karyotypic mosaics emerged where individual cells presented polyploid multiples in arithmetic and geometric progressions. Ploidal multiplicity, a chromosomal component of stochastic noise, had positive phenotypic effects (increased dimensions) on morphologic criteria of body length, body width and dorsal surface reflecting a significant genotypic plasticity (GP) and robust phenotypic plasticity (PP). Variable but significant association of genotypic plasticity with robust phenotypic variance suggests kinetics of phenotypic homeostasis that is species-specific permitting phenotypic adaptability to environmental variables by means of GP. That association is diminished, deactivated or lost in more advanced and more complex organisms.

1 aBenya, E, G F1 aLeal-Zanchet, A, M1 aHauser, J uhttps://continenticola.myspecies.info/node/174702351nas a2200169 4500008004100000022001400041245008000055210006900135260001600204520180600220100002602026700002002052700002102072700001602093700002002109856005202129 2017 eng d a1549-546900aIncreased taxon sampling reveals thousands of hidden orthologs in flatworms0 aIncreased taxon sampling reveals thousands of hidden orthologs i c2017 Apr 113 a

Gains and losses shape the gene complement of animal lineages and are a fundamental aspect of genomic evolution. Acquiring a comprehensive view of the evolution of gene repertoires is limited by the intrinsic limitations of common sequence similarity searches and available databases. Thus, a subset of the gene complement of an organism consists of hidden orthologs, i.e., those with no apparent homology to sequenced animal lineages - mistakenly considered new genes - but actually representing rapidly evolving orthologs or undetected paralogs. Here, we describe Leapfrog, a simple automated BLAST pipeline that leverages increased taxon sampling to overcome long evolutionary distances and identify putative hidden orthologs in large transcriptomic databases by transitive homology. As a case study, we used 35 transcriptomes of 29 flatworm lineages to recover 3,427 putative hidden orthologs, some of them not identified by OrthoFinder and HaMStR, two common orthogroup inference algorithms. Unexpectedly, we do not observe a correlation between the number of putative hidden orthologs in a lineage and its 'average' evolutionary rate. Hidden orthologs do not show unusual sequence composition biases that might account for systematic errors in sequence similarity searches. Instead, gene duplication with divergence of one paralog and weak positive selection appear to underlie hidden orthology in Platyhelminthes. By using Leapfrog, we identify key centrosome-related genes and homeodomain classes previously reported as absent in free-living flatworms, e.g. planarians. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that hidden orthologs comprise a significant proportion of the gene repertoire in flatworms, qualifying the impact of gene losses and gains in gene complement evolution.

1 aMartin-Duran, Jose, M1 aRyan, Joseph, F1 aVellutini, Bruno1 aPang, Kevin1 aHejnol, Andreas uhttps://continenticola.myspecies.info/node/174000851nas a2200253 4500008004100000245014100041210007100182260003700253300001300290490000600303100002200309700002200331700002100353700002000374700002100394700002000415700001900435700002300454700002100477700001700498700002000515700002200535856004000557 2017 eng d00aThe identification of ᴅ-tryptophan as a bioactive substance for postembryonic ovarian development in the planarian Dugesia ryukyuensis0 aidentification of ᴅtryptophan as a bioactive substance for poste bThe Author(s)c2017/03/24/online a45175 - 0 v71 aKobayashi, Kazuya1 aMaezawa, Takanobu1 aTanaka, Hiroyuki1 aOnuki, Hiroyuki1 aHoriguchi, Yurie1 aHirota, Hiroshi1 aIshida, Tetsuo1 aHoriike, Kihachiro1 aAgata, Yasutoshi1 aAoki, Manabu1 aHoshi, Motonori1 aMatsumoto, Midori uhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep4517502143nas a2200109 4500008004100000245008800041210006900129260001600198520174500214100002201959856005201981 2017 eng d00aSulphated glycosaminoglycans support an assortment of planarian rhabdite structures0 aSulphated glycosaminoglycans support an assortment of planarian  c2017 Mar 163 a

Planaria are soft-bodied, bilateral flatworms of the phylum Playhelminthes. They are covered in cilia and use ciliary-gliding to traverse the substratum while hunting. Their body surface is covered in a layer of viscous slime primarily derived from specialised secretory granules known as rhabdites. The slime must somehow stay associated with the surface of the animal in aqueous environments whilst also lubricating the interface of the animal and the surfaces over which the animal moves. The slime prevents damage to the animal's soft body and also contributes to adhesion to the substratum. In order to gain insight into how it might achieve these diverse functions, we performed electron microscopic examination of the slime's structure. Analysis of two freshwater flatworms from the UK Schmidtea polychroa (Schmidt, 1861) and Polycelis tenuis (Ijima, 1884) revealed a high level of organisation of the slime layer and a variety of ejected slime structures. We show that these structures are rich in sulphated glycosaminoglycans (sGAGs). Most of these (269 of 285 examined) appear to be topologically-closed spheroids that we name ball-GAGs Another class appears to burst to release flower- and star-like clusters which adhere to motile cilia. We also observe fibrous nets that are associated with entrapped bacteria. Examination of the structure of rhabdites ejected onto a porous surface suggests a mechanism by which their structure allows them to both bind to the porous surface and provide a smooth layer over which the animal could glide. Such sGAG-based structures might provide models for the design of artificial biomimetic replacements for tears, saliva, bio-compatible lubricants or drug-delivery vehicles.

1 aHayes, Matthew, J uhttps://continenticola.myspecies.info/node/173001894nas a2200241 4500008004100000022001400041245009100055210006900146260001600215490000600231520114900237100002001386700001301406700002701419700002301446700002201469700001701491700002001508700001801528700002101546700003301567856005201600 2017 eng d a2050-084X00aEmbryonic origin of adult stem cells required for tissue homeostasis and regeneration.0 aEmbryonic origin of adult stem cells required for tissue homeost c2017 Jan 100 v63 a

Planarian neoblasts are pluripotent, adult somatic stem cells and lineage-primed progenitors that are required for the production and maintenance of all differentiated cell types, including the germline. Neoblasts, originally defined as undifferentiated cells residing in the adult parenchyma, are frequently compared to embryonic stem cells yet their developmental origin remains obscure. We investigated the provenance of neoblasts during Schmidtea mediterranea embryogenesis, and report that neoblasts arise from an anarchic, cycling piwi-1+ population wholly responsible for production of all temporary and definitive organs during embryogenesis. Early embryonic piwi-1+ cells are molecularly and functionally distinct from neoblasts: they express unique cohorts of early embryo enriched transcripts and behave differently than neoblasts in cell transplantation assays. Neoblast lineages arise as organogenesis begins and are required for construction of all major organ systems during embryogenesis. These subpopulations are continuously generated during adulthood, where they act as agents of tissue homeostasis and regeneration.

1 aDavies, Erin, L1 aLei, Kai1 aSeidel, Christopher, W1 aKroesen, Amanda, E1 aMcKinney, Sean, A1 aGuo, Longhua1 aRobb, Sofia, Mc1 aRoss, Eric, J1 aGotting, Kirsten1 aAlvarado, Alejandro, Sanchez uhttps://continenticola.myspecies.info/node/170501966nas a2200181 4500008004100000022001400041245011000055210006900165260000900234300001000243490000700253520138500260100003201645700002101677700001801698700001601716856005201732 2017 eng d a1696-354700aThe pioneer factor Smed-gata456-1 is required for gut cell differentiation and maintenance in planarians.0 apioneer factor Smedgata4561 is required for gut cell differentia c2017 a53-630 v613 a

How adult stem cells differentiate into different cell types remains one of the most intriguing questions in regenerative medicine. Pioneer factors are transcription factors that can bind to and open chromatin, and are among the first elements involved in cell differentiation. We used the freshwater planarian Schmidtea mediterranea as a model system to study the role of the gata456 family of pioneer factors in gut cell differentiation during both regeneration and maintenance of the digestive system. Our findings reveal the presence of two members of the gata456 family in the Schmidtea mediterranea genome; Smed-gata456-1 and Smed-gata456-2. Our results show that Smed-gata456-1 is the only ortholog with a gut cell-related function. Smed-gata456-1 is essential for the differentiation of precursors into intestinal cells and for the survival of these differentiated cells, indicating a key role in gut regeneration and maintenance. Furthermore, tissues other than the gut appear normal following Smed-gata456-1 RNA interference (RNAi), indicating a gut-specific function. Importantly, different neoblast subtypes are unaffected by Smed-gata456-1(RNAi), suggesting that 1) Smed-gata456-1 is involved in the differentiation and maintenance, but not in the early determination, of gut cells; and 2) that the stem cell compartment is not dependent on a functional gut.

1 aGonzález-Sastre, Alejandro1 aDe Sousa, Nídia1 aAdell, Teresa1 aSalo, Emili uhttps://continenticola.myspecies.info/node/170401371nas a2200181 4500008004100000022001400041245014400055210007100199260001600270300002100286490000900307520073500316100001801051700002201069700002401091700002201115856005201137 2017 eng d a1175-533400aLand flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae) of São Tomé: a first account on their diversity, with the description of five new species.0 aLand flatworms Platyhelminthes Geoplanidae of São Tomé a first a c2017 Jan 17 azootaxa.4221.3.20 v42213 a

The present contribution provides the first faunistic and taxonomic account of six species of land flatworm from the island of São Tomé, including five new species of the genus Othelosoma Gray, 1869 and the introduced Bipalium kewense Moseley, 1878. One of the new species represents the first African land flatworm that has specks on its dorsal body surface, instead of stripes or a more or less uniform colouration. At least two of the new species were observed to prey on snails. The study details the fourth record of a sclerotic spermatophore in a species of land flatworm, and discusses the definition and homology of double female genital canals in African and Indian species of the genus Othelosoma.

1 aSluys, Ronald1 aNeumann, Matthias1 aDE Lima, Ricardo, F1 aDrewes, Robert, C uhttps://continenticola.myspecies.info/node/169702270nas a2200205 4500008004100000020001400041245011400055210006900169260003300238300001100271520158000282100002801862700001801890700002301908700002301931700002101954700002101975700001601996856005202012 2017 eng d a2150-559400aAntimicrobial capacity of the freshwater planarians against S. aureus is under the control of Timeless0 aAntimicrobial capacity of the freshwater planarians against iS a bTaylor & Francisc2017/01/04 a1 - 103 a

ABSTRACTPlanarians, which are non-parasitic flatworms, are highly resistant to bacterial infections. To better understand the mechanisms underlying this resistance, we investigated the role of the circadian machinery in the anti-bacterial response of the freshwater planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. We identified Smed-Tim from S. mediterranea as a homolog of the mammalian clock gene Tim. We showed via RNA interference that Smed-Tim is required for the anti-microbial activities of Schmidtea mediterranea against Staphylococcus aureus infection during the light/dark cycle. Indeed, S. aureus infection leads to the expression of Smed-Tim, which in turn promotes Smed-Traf6 and Smed-morn2, but not Smed-p38 MAPK expression, 2 master regulators of planarian anti-microbial responses.ABSTRACTPlanarians, which are non-parasitic flatworms, are highly resistant to bacterial infections. To better understand the mechanisms underlying this resistance, we investigated the role of the circadian machinery in the anti-bacterial response of the freshwater planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. We identified Smed-Tim from S. mediterranea as a homolog of the mammalian clock gene Tim. We showed via RNA interference that Smed-Tim is required for the anti-microbial activities of Schmidtea mediterranea against Staphylococcus aureus infection during the light/dark cycle. Indeed, S. aureus infection leads to the expression of Smed-Tim, which in turn promotes Smed-Traf6 and Smed-morn2, but not Smed-p38 MAPK expression, 2 master regulators of planarian anti-microbial responses.

1 aTsoumtsa, Landry, Laure1 aTorre, Cedric1 aTrouplin, Virginie1 aCoiffard, Benjamin1 aGimenez, Gregory1 aMege, Jean-Louis1 aGhigo, Eric uhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21505594.2016.127668901121nas a2200145 4500008004100000020002300041245015300064210006900217260002900286300001100315520055300326100001700879700002200896856005700918 2017 eng d a1313-29891313-297000aThree new species of Cratera Carbayo et al., 2013 from Araucaria forests with a key to species of the genus (Platyhelminthes, Continenticola)0 aThree new species of iCraterai Carbayo et al 2013 from Araucaria bPensoft Publishersc2017 a1 - 323 a

Areas of Araucaria moist forest have been considered to constitute hotspots of land flatworm diversity, harbouring a high number of undescribed species. Herein we describe three new species of land flatworms of Cratera occurring in such type of forest in south Brazil. The three species are differentiated from their congeners mainly by their colour pattern, anatomy of the pharynx and prostatic vesicle, and details of the penis papilla and male atrium. An identification key to species of the genus in the Neotropical region is provided.

1 aRossi, Ilana1 aLeal-Zanchet, Ana uhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5242264/02302nas a2200217 4500008004100000020001400041245016800055210006900223260001100292300001100303520155500314100001701869700002001886700002301906700002301929700002401952700001901976700002201995700001902017856004802036 2017 eng d a1559-029100aBiochemical and Molecular Study of Carpobrotus edulis Bioactive Properties and Their Effects on Dugesia sicula (Turbellaria, Tricladida) Regeneration0 aBiochemical and Molecular Study of iCarpobrotus edulisi Bioactiv c2017// a1 - 133 a

The traditional medicinal properties of Carpobrotus edulis are well recognized, particularly in Tunisia where it is used for wound healing. Thus, in this study, biochemical and molecular properties of its leaves’ bioactive aqueous-acetone extract were investigated. The total phenolic content (TPC) of the extract was estimated to be 184 ± 5 mg/100 g of fresh matter (FM). The qualitative and quantitative polyphenolic profile was determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (UPLC-DAD) and showed that chlorogenic acid was the major compound (43.7%). The extract exhibits potent antioxidant capacities with IC50 = 56.19 and 58.91 μg/ml, as accessed via the anionic DPPH and cationic ABTS radical scavenging assays, respectively. The extract has high antibacterial properties, especially against the Gram+ Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus strains. To investigate the extract effect on regeneration, the flatworm Dugesia sicula Lepori, 1948, was used as a model. The macroscopic analysis of planarian cultures in ordinary medium containing phenolic extract at non-toxic concentrations illustrated that the extract caused morphological changes. Additionally, the molecular study through the fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) technique showed that C. edulis polyphenols can harm the stem cells’ development. These results emphasize the ecotoxicological impact of phenolic rejections in the environment on flatworms’ physiology.

1 aMeddeb, Emna1 aCharni, Mohamed1 aGhazouani, Tesnime1 aCozzolino, Autilia1 aFratianni, Florinda1 aRaboudi, Faten1 aNazzaro, Filomena1 aFattouch, Sami uhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12010-016-2387-y02249nas a2200349 4500008004100000020001400041245012200055210006900177260001500246300001000261490000800271520126900279653001601548653001301564653001201577653001001589653001401599100001901613700001401632700001301646700001901659700001201678700001601690700001801706700001901724700001701743700001501760700001901775700001601794700001801810856007101828 2017 eng d a0378-111900aIdentification and characterization of a novel multifunctional placenta specific protein 8 in Dugesia japonica0 aIdentification and characterization of a novel multifunctional p c2017/5/20/ a1 - 90 v6133 a

AbstractPlacenta specific protein 8 (Plac8) has been well studied in vertebrates, yet little is known in invertebrates. In this study, a novel Plac8 from the planarian Dugesia japonica was identified and its functions in immune responses and development were characterized. Our results show that Djplac8 was expressed in the pharynx, epidermis and intestine of intact adult planarian. The expression of DjPlac8 increased significantly upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, and inhibited the growth of the Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), suggesting the role of Plac8 in immune response. Spatial and temporal expression and distribution of DjPlac8 mRNA in regenerated planarians indicates that DjPlac8 was mainly expressed in the pharynx. In situ hybridization also revealed the elevated expression of the DjPlac8 gene in the embryonic pharynx, germ band and parenchyma cells, indicating an important role in embryonic development of D. japonica. When DjPlac8 was deactivated by RNA interference-mediated knockdown, the head of planarians underwent abnormal development. In summary, we identified DjPlac8 as a novel multifunctional protein that plays essential roles in immune response and development of planarians.

10aDevelopment10aImmunity10aPharynx10aPlac810aplanarian1 aPang, Qiuxiang1 aGao, Lili1 aBai, Yun1 aDeng, Hongkuan1 aHan, Yu1 aHu, Wenjing1 aZhang, Yanhui1 aYuan, Shanhang1 aSun, Wenping1 aLu, Yiqian1 aZhang, Xiufang1 aLiu, Baohua1 aZhao, Bosheng uhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378111917301130