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Strains of Cyanobacteria isolated from mats of 9 thermal springs of Greece have been studied for their taxonomic evaluation. A polyphasic taxonomic approach was employed which included: morphological observations by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis of 16S rDNA sequences, secondary structural comparisons of 16S-23S rRNA Internal Transcribed Spacer sequences, and finally environmental data. The 17 cyanobacterial isolates formed a diverse group that contained filamentous, coccoid and heterocytous strains. These included representatives of the polyphyletic genera of Synechococcus and Phormidium, and the orders Oscillatoriales, Spirulinales, Chroococcales and Nostocales. After analysis, at least 6 new taxa at the genus level provide new evidence in the taxonomy of Cyanobacteria and highlight the abundant diversity of thermal spring environments with many potential endemic species or ecotypes., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The warm temperature acclimation protein Wap65 has been shown to be involved in temperature acclimation, in immune response as well as in development. In teleosts, two types of Wap65 proteins, Wap65-1 and Wap65-2 are found, both acting as a multifunctional agent in several biological processes. In the present study we identified both transcripts Wap65-1 and Wap65-2 for the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), examined their evolutionary rate and performed selection tests. The two paralogues were shown to be under moderate positive selection indicating their evolutionary adaptation. This functional diversification was further explored through expression studies. Both transcripts were differentially expressed during development as well as in various tissues and pathogen challenges, showing that Wap65-1 and Wap65-2 have evolved diverse functions. These results direct to the hypothesis that Wap65 proteins may, similarly to heat-shock proteins, have a general role in cell physiology., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The phylogeographic structure of the brown hare (Lepus europaeus) was studied by analysing mtDNA control region sequences of 98 individuals from continental and insular Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus and northern Israel, together with 44 published sequences from Italy and central Europe. We found two distinct clades separated by an average nucleotide divergence of 6.6%, which may correspond to a Balkan and to an Asia Minor refugium. The estimated time of separation of the two clades was dated back to 105,000- 490,000 years ago. These two clades coexist in the area of northeastern Greece and Bulgaria, most likely as a result of a post-glacial northward expansion. Within the southern Balkan refugium, network analyses showed geographical structuring, which supports the hypothesis of several isolated Late Pleistocene populations. The central European and Italian populations appear to have originated from a non-detected northern Balkan population that was genetically closely related to some northern Greek populations, as a result of postglacial expansion, translocations or a combination of both. Moreover, several cases of ancient and recent translocations by humans were detected, especially for some island populations, while the eastern Aegean islands off the Asia Minor coast were most likely colonized naturally through Late Pleistocene land bridge connection. The genetic analysis presented here provides a framework for designing proper conservation and management guidelines for this species.