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Melipona bicolor, an inhabitant of the Atlantic Rainforest, nidifies in hollows of live or dead trees. In order to study thermoregulation of a nest of this species, a temperature data logger was installed inside a hollow tree. After this, an intruder dug a hole, invaded the nest, and probably consumed its honey, pollen and bees, having remained there during three days. Thermal evidence and its behavior allowed the delimitation of a small number of suspects, wich we analized here. The intruder was a small mammal, predominantly nocturnal, that takes shelter in burrows, probably the yellow armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus). Other evidence, if collected immediately after invasion, could precisely indicate precisely the species.

Low-quality surveillance cameras throughout the cities could provide important cues to identify a suspect, for example, in a crime scene. However, the license-plate recognition is especially difficult under poor image resolutions. In this vein, super-resolution (SR) can be an inexpensive solution, via software, to overcome this limitation. Consecutive frames in a video may contain different information that could be integrated into a single image, richer in details. In this paper, we design and develop a novel, free and open-source framework underpinned by SR and automatic license-plate recognition (ALPR) techniques to identify license-plate characters in low-quality real-world traffic videos, captured by cameras not designed specifically for the ALPR task, aiding forensic analysts in understanding an event of interest. The framework handles the necessary conditions to identify a target license plate, using a novel methodology to locate, track, align, super-resolve, and recognize its alphanumerics. The user receives as outputs the rectified and super-resolved license-plate, richer in detail, and also the sequence of license-plates characters that have been automatically recognized in the super-resolved image. Additionally, we also design and develop a novel SR method that projects the license-plates separately onto the rectified grid, and then fill in the missing pixels using inpainting techniques. We compare the different algorithms in the framework (five for tracking, three for registration, seven for reconstruction, two for post-processing, and two for the recognition step), and present discussions on the pros and cons of each choice. Our experiments show that SR can indeed increase the number of correctly recognized characters posing the framework as an important step toward providing forensic experts and practitioners with a solution for the license-plate recognition problem under difficult acquisition conditions.

Se realizó un estudio para evaluar el potencial citogenotóxico en células espermáticas de ratón, del adyuvante AFCo1 (Adyuvante Finlay Cocleato 1), obtenido a partir del proteoliposoma de Neisseria meningitidis serogrupo B. El AFCo1 y su diluente se administraron por vía intranasal en una dosis de 40 µL (1 mg/mL), mientras que los controles positivo (ciclofosfamida) y negativo (agua destilada estéril), se administraron por vía oral a razón de 40 mg y 1 mL/kg, respectivamente. Se utilizaron ratones (NMRI) de 8-12 semanas de edad, con peso corporal entre 27-30 g, a los cuales se les aplicaron cinco dosis con un intervalo de 24 h, durante los primeros cinco días del experimento. Se evaluó la toxicidad general (peso corporal) e indicadores testiculares de citotoxicidad testicular (concentración espermática) y genotoxicidad (morfología espermática). El AFCo1 y su diluente no provocaron toxicidad general, citotoxicidad, ni genotoxicidad. La ciclofosfamida sí produjo citotoxicidad (47,77%) y genotoxicidad (534,61%). Se concluye que el AFCo1 y su diluente pueden ser considerados como no tóxicos para las células espermáticas en el nivel de dosis y para el biomodelo animal utilizado.

Introduction: Vaccination is the main preventive strategy against Yellow Fever (YF), which is a public health concern in Brazil. However, HIV-infected patients might have insufficient knowledge regarding YF, YF prevention, and vaccines in general. Methods: In this questionnaire-based study, data from 158 HIV-infected individuals were addressed in three distinct outpatient clinics in São Paulo. Information was collected on demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as patients' knowledge of vaccines, YF and YF preventive strategies. In addition, individual YF vaccine recommendations and vaccine status were investigated. Results: Although most participants adequately ascertain the vaccine as the main prevention strategy against YF, few participants were aware of the severity and lack of specific treatment for YF. Discrepancy in YF vaccine (patients who should have taken the vaccine, but did not) was observed in 18.8% of participants. Conclusion: YF is an important and preventable public health concern, and these results demonstrate that more information is necessary for the HIV-infected population.

La planta Mimosa pudica (moriviví, como comúnmente se le conoce), ha sido empleada tradicionalmente como anestésico, antidepresivo, sedante, antialopécico, entre otras propiedades farmacológicas; sin embargo, en los últimos años su consumo se ha convertido en excesivo. Con el objetivo de conocer el potencial adictivo de esta planta se desarrolló un ensayo de abstinencia espontánea en ratones de la línea NMRI, llevado a cabo durante 20 días, para lo cual se administró una dosis de 1 000 mg/kg de peso de la decocción de la planta 2 veces al día, por vía oral. Como control negativo y positivo se emplearon agua y morfina (32 mg/kg de peso por vía intraperitoneal, respectivamente). Finalmente se comprobó que dicha decocción mostró signos de dependencia física y los animales en estudio manifestaron disminución del peso corporal y aumento de la temperatura rectal con respecto al control negativo, una vez suspendida la administración. Por su parte, estos signos fueron más significativos en el control positivo, de manera que se puede plantear que la decocción de la planta Mimosa pudica a la dosis empleada evidenció signos de dependencia física.

La Solución CM-95 tratada magnéticamente es un producto en desarrollo que mostró propiedades inmunoestimulantes en ensayos preclínicos, característica que la hacen adecuada como candidata a inmunopotenciador. En este trabajo se evaluaron los posibles efectos tóxicos preclínicos de la Solución CM-95 tratada magnéticamente, por el método de las Clases de Toxicidad Aguda y el de irritación de la mucosa oral, adaptando las normas OECD 423 y la ISO 10993-10, respectivamente. En el método de las Clases de Toxicidad Aguda se utilizó el ensayo límite, en ratas Sprague Dawley hembras, en el cual la dosis estuvo relacionada con el nivel de inducción magnética, en este caso 0,16 T, aplicado a la Solución CM-95; y el volumen a administrar de la misma, calculado sobre la base de 2 ml de la solución por 100 g de peso corporal. La determinación de la irritación de la mucosa oral se llevó a cabo en hámster Sirios Dorados hembras mediante un ensayo a dosis repetidas durante 7 días de tratamiento en la bolsa gular derecha, con pellet de algodón impregnado con 0,5 ml de la solución tratada magnéticamente con la misma inducción. No se encontró mortalidad ni evidencias de signos tóxicos para el ensayo de toxicidad aguda, y se obtuvo un índice de irritación sobre mucosa oral de 0, por lo que la sustancia estudiada se enmarcó como "No clasificada" y "No irritante" según la metodología empleada. Estos resultados complementarán otros estudios toxicológicos para avalar la seguridad de esta Solución para su uso futuro como fármaco por vía oral.CM-95 solution magnetically treated is a product which showed immunologic properties in preliminary tests, characteristic that makes it adequate as inmunopotentiator candidate. In this study the possible preclinical toxic effects of CM-95 Solution magnetically treated were evaluated, by the Acute Toxicity Class method and oral mucosa irritation test, adapting guideline OECD 423 and ISO 10993-10. In Acute Toxicity Class method was used the Limit Test, in Sprague Dawley females rats, where the dose was related to the magnetic induction level, in this case 0.16 T, applied to CM-95 Solution; and the administration volume of aqueous solution was calculated on base 2 ml per 100 g body weight. Determination of oral mucosa irritation was carried out in female golden Syrian hamsters by means of a repeated doses test during 7 days of treatment in right gular bag, with a cotton pellet impregnated with 0.5 ml of CM-95 Solution magnetically treated with the same induction. Neither mortality nor evidences of toxic signs were observed for the test of acute toxicity, and an irritation index of 0 was obtained on oral mucosa irritation test, reason why the studied substance was framed as "not classified" and "non irritating" according to the applied methodology. These results will complement other toxicological studies to guarantee the safety of this Solution for its future use as a drug by oral route.

En este trabajo se realizó la evaluación toxicológica a dosis repetidas por el método de test límite del candidato a inmunopotenciador, la solución CM-95 tratada magnéticamente, acorde con las regulaciones de la Organización para la Colaboración Económica y el Desarrollo, incluida en la Guía 407. El objetivo fue establecer las posibles lesiones orgánicas y funcionales ocasionadas por la solución CM-95, tratada magnéticamente con la máxima inducción magnética permisible (0,16 T), para la obtención del candidato a inmunopotenciador. Se emplearon tres grupos: Experimental, Control y Satélite. Como Biomodelo experimental se utilizaron ratas Sprague Dawley machos y hembras con pesos de 150 a 200 g. Durante el estudio no se registraron signos clínicos de toxicidad ni muertes en ninguno de los animales de los grupos tratados, ni en los controles. No hubo afectación del peso corporal durante el ensayo. Aunque hubo variaciones en los valores de algunos parámetros hematológicos y bioquímicos, estos no tuvieron significación biológica. No se encontraron lesiones macroscópicas, ni microscópicas; solo se observaron efectos proliferativos en el tejido linfoide de timo y bazo, relacionados con la respuesta del sistema inmune. La solución CM-95 tratada magnéticamente, no mostró toxicidad en el modelo animal y nivel de dosis utilizado, y bajo las condiciones experimentales ensayadas.

Sin resumen

Members of the genus Lysinibacillus attract attention for their mosquitocidal, bioremediation, and plant growth-promoting abilities. Despite this interest, comprehensive studies focusing on genomic traits governing plant growth and stress resilience in this genus using whole-genome sequencing are still scarce. Therefore, we sequenced and compared the genomes of three endophytic Lysinibacillus irui strains isolated from Canary Island date palms with the ex-type strain IRB4-01. Overall, the genomes of these strains consist of a circular chromosome with an average size of 4.6 Mb and a GC content of 37.2%. Comparative analysis identified conserved gene clusters within the core genome involved in iron acquisition, phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid biosynthesis, and volatile compounds. In addition, genome analysis revealed the presence of genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes, and proteins that confer resistance to oxidative, osmotic, and salinity stresses. Furthermore, pathways of putative novel bacteriocins were identified in all genomes. This illustrates possible common plant growth-promoting traits shared among all strains of L. irui. Our findings highlight a rich repertoire of genes associated with plant lifestyles, suggesting significant potential for developing inoculants to enhance plant growth and resilience. This study is the first to provide insights into the overall genomic signatures and mechanisms of plant growth promotion and biocontrol in the genus Lysinibacillus. KEY POINTS: • Pioneer study in elucidating plant growth promoting in L. irui through comparative genomics. • Genome mining identified biosynthetic pathways of putative novel bacteriocins. • Future research directions to develop L. irui-based biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Due to cryptic diversification, phenotypic plasticity and host associations, multilocus phylogenetic analyses have become the most important tool in accurately identifying and circumscribing species in the Diaporthe genus. However, the application of the genealogical concordance criterion has often been overlooked, ultimately leading to an exponential increase in novel Diaporthe spp. Due to the large number of species, many lineages remain poorly understood under the so-called species complexes. For this reason, a robust delimitation of the species boundaries in Diaporthe is still an ongoing challenge. Therefore, the present study aimed to resolve the species boundaries of the Diaporthe arecae species complex (DASC) by implementing an integrative taxonomic approach. The Genealogical Phylogenetic Species Recognition (GCPSR) principle revealed incongruences between the individual gene genealogies. Moreover, the Poisson Tree Processes' (PTPs) coalescent-based species delimitation models identified three well-delimited subclades represented by the species D. arecae , D. chiangmaiensis and D. smilacicola . These results evidence that all species previously described in the D. arecae subclade are conspecific, which is coherent with the morphological indistinctiveness observed and the absence of reproductive isolation and barriers to gene flow. Thus, 52 Diaporthe spp. are reduced to synonymy under D. arecae . Recent population expansion and the possibility of incomplete lineage sorting suggested that the D. arecae subclade may be considered as ongoing evolving lineages under active divergence and speciation. Hence, the genetic diversity and intraspecific variability of D. arecae in the context of current global climate change and the role of D. arecae as a pathogen on palm trees and other hosts are also discussed. This study illustrates that species in Diaporthe are highly overestimated, and highlights the relevance of applying an integrative taxonomic approach to accurately circumscribe the species boundaries in the genus Diaporthe .

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to analyze the effects of different exercise protocols on physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and body composition), quality of life, cancer-related fatigue, and sleep quality in patients with different types of cancer undergoing neoadjuvant treatment., Design: Systematic review., Method: A comprehensive search of existing literature was carried out using four electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library (published until October 19, 2022). All databases were searched for randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental investigations, and pre-post investigations assessing the effects of exercise in cancer patients during neoadjuvant treatment. Excluded articles included multicomponent interventions, such as exercise plus diet or behavioral therapy, and investigations performed during adjuvant treatment or survivorship. The methodological quality of each study was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale., Results: Twenty-seven trials involving 999 cancer patients were included in this review. The interventions were conducted in cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant treatment for rectal (n = 11), breast (n = 5), pancreatic (n = 4), esophageal (n = 3), gastro-esophageal (n = 2), and prostate (n = 1) cancers, and leukemia (n = 1). Among the investigations included, 14 utilized combined exercise protocols, 11 utilized aerobic exercise, and two utilized both aerobic and resistance training separately. Exercise interventions appeared to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, body composition, and quality of life, although many investigations lacked a between-group analysis., Conclusion: Despite limited evidence, exercise interventions applied during neoadjuvant treatment demonstrate promising potential in enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, body composition, and overall quality of life. However, a scarcity of evidence remains on the effects of exercise on cancer-related fatigue and sleep quality. Further research with high-quality randomized controlled trials is warranted., Competing Interests: Declaration of Interest Statement None., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Marine environments occupy more than 70% of the earth's surface, integrating very diverse habitats with specific characteristics. This heterogeneity of environments is reflected in the biochemical composition of the organisms that inhabit them. Marine organisms are a source of bioactive compounds, being increasingly studied due to their health-beneficial properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, or anticancer. In the last decades, marine fungi have stood out for their potential to produce compounds with therapeutic properties. The objective of this study was to determine the fatty acid profile of isolates from the fungi Emericellopsis cladophorae and Zalerion maritima and assess the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial potential of their lipid extracts. The analysis of the fatty acid profile, using GC-MS, showed that E. cladophorae and Z. maritima possess high contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids, 50% and 34%, respectively, including the omega-3 fatty acid 18:3 n -3. Emericellopsis cladophorae and Z. maritima lipid extracts showed anti-inflammatory activity expressed by the capacity of their COX-2 inhibition which was 92% and 88% of inhibition at 200 µg lipid mL -1 , respectively. Emericellopsis cladophorae lipid extracts showed a high percentage of inhibition of COX -2 activity even at low concentrations of lipids (54% of inhibition using 20 µg lipid mL -1 ), while a dose-dependent behaviour was observed in Z. maritima . The antioxidant activity assays of total lipid extracts demonstrated that the lipid extract from E. cladophorae did not show antioxidant activity, while Z. maritima gave an IC 20 value of 116.6 ± 6.2 µg mL -1 equivalent to 92.1 ± 4.8 µmol Trolox g -1 of lipid extract in the DPPH• assay, and 101.3 ± 14.4 µg mL -1 equivalent to 106.6 ± 14.8 µmol Trolox g -1 of lipid extract in the ABTS• + assay. The lipid extract of both fungal species did not show antibacterial properties at the concentrations tested. This study is the first step in the biochemical characterization of these marine organisms and demonstrates the bioactive potential of lipid extracts from marine fungi for biotechnological applications.

Recent field surveys conducted in five common alder ecosystems in Portugal have shown the occurrence of severe canopy dieback, bleeding canker and root rot symptoms indicative of Phytophthora infections. Isolations from symptomatic tissues, rhizosphere and water samples yielded a total of 13 Phytophthora species belonging to 6 phylogenetic clades, including P. lacustris (13 isolates), P. multivora (10), P. amnicola (9), P. chlamydospora (6), P. polonica (6), P. bilorbang (4), P. plurivora (4), P. cinnamomi (3), P. asparagi (2), P. cactorum (2), P. pseudocryptogea (2), P. gonapodyides (1) and P. rosacearum (1). Results of the pathogenicity test confirmed the complex aetiology of common alder decline and the additional risk posed by Phytophthora multivora to the riparian habitats in Portugal. At the same time, the diversity of Phytophthora assemblages detected among the investigated sites suggests that different species could contribute to causing the same symptoms on this host. Two species, P. amnicola and P. rosacearum, are reported here for the first time in natural ecosystems in Europe.

The human upper respiratory tract comprises the nasal cavity, pharynx and larynx regions and offers distinct microbial communities. However, an imbalance and alterations in the nasal mucosa microbiome enhance the risk of chronic respiratory conditions in patients with allergic respiratory diseases. This is particularly important in children and adolescents once allergic rhinitis (AR) is an inflammatory disorder of the nasal mucosa, often associated with an increase in pulmonary allergic inflammation. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to collect scientific data published concerning the microbial community alterations in nasal mucosa of children and adolescents suffering from AR or in association with adenotonsillar hypertrophy (AH) and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC). The current study was performed using the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Publications related to microbiome alterations in the nasal mucosa in pediatric age, studies including next-generation sequencing platforms, and studies exclusively written in the English language were some of the inclusion criteria. In total, five articles were included. Despite the scarcity of the published data in this research field and the lack of prospective studies, the genera Acinetobacter , Corynebacterium , Dolosigranulum , Haemophilus , Moraxella , Staphylococcus and Streptococcus dominate the nares and nasopharyngeal microbiome of the pediatric population regardless of their age. However, an imbalance in the resident bacterial community in the nasal mucosa was observed. The genera Acinetobacter , and Pseudomonas were more abundant in the nasal cavity of AR and AH children, while Streptococcus and Moraxella were predominant in the hypopharyngeal region of AR infants. An abundance of Staphylococcus spp. was also reported in the anterior nares and hypopharyngeal region of children and adolescents suffering from AR passive smoke exposure and ARC. These records suggest that different nasal structures, ageing, smoke exposure and the presence of other chronic disorders shape the nasal mucosa microbiome. Therefore, the establishment of adequate criteria for sampling would be established for a deeper understanding and a trustworthy comparison of the microbiome alterations in pediatric age.

Plant pathogens are responsible for causing economic and production losses in several crops worldwide, thus reducing the quality and quantity of agricultural supplies. To reduce the usage of chemically synthesized pesticides, strategies and approaches using microorganisms are being used in plant disease management. Most of the studies concerning plant-growth promotion and biological agents to control plant diseases are mainly focused on bacteria. In addition, a great portion of registered and commercialized biopesticides are bacterial-based products. Despite fungal endophytes having been identified as promising candidates for their use in biological control, it is of the utmost importance to develop and improve the existing knowledge on this research field. The genus Diaporthe , encompasses plant pathogens, saprobes and endophytes that have been screened for secondary metabolite, mainly due to their production of polyketides and a variety of unique bioactive metabolites with agronomic importance. Some of these metabolites exhibit antifungal and antibacterial activity for controlling plant pathogens, and phytotoxic activity for the development of potential mycoherbicides. Moreover, species of Diaporthe are reported as promising agents in the development of biofertilizers. For this reason, in this review we summarize the potential of Diaporthe species to produce natural products with application in agriculture and describe the benefits of these fungi to promote their host plant's growth.

The genus Diaporthe includes pathogenic species distributed worldwide and affecting a wide variety of hosts. Diaporthe amygdali and Diaporthe eres have been found to cause cankers, dieback, or twig blights on economically important crops such as soybean, almond, grapevine, and blueberry. Despite their importance as plant pathogens, the strategies of species of Diaporthe to infect host plants are poorly explored. To provide a genomic basis of pathogenicity, the genomes of D. amygdali CAA958 and D. eres CBS 160.32 were sequenced and analyzed. Cellular transporters involved in the transport of toxins, ions, sugars, effectors, and genes implicated in pathogenicity were detected in both genomes. Hydrolases and oxidoreductases were the most prevalent carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). However, analyses of the secreted proteins revealed that the secretome of D. eres CBS 160.32 is represented by 5.4% of CAZymes, whereas the secreted CAZymes repertoire of D. amygdali CAA958 represents 29.1% of all secretomes. Biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) encoding compounds related to phytotoxins and mycotoxins were detected in D. eres and D. amygdali genomes. The core gene clusters of the phytotoxin Fusicoccin A in D. amygdali are reported here through a genome-scale assembly. Comparative analyses of the genomes from 11 Diaporthe species revealed an average of 874 CAZymes, 101 secondary metabolite BGCs, 1640 secreted proteins per species, and genome sizes ranging from 51.5 to 63.6 Mbp. This study offers insights into the overall features and characteristics of Diaporthe genomes. Our findings enrich the knowledge about D. eres and D. amygdali , which will facilitate further research into the pathogenicity mechanisms of these species.

Species in Diaporthe are largely reported as important plant pathogens. Identification of species in this genus has been complemented by morphological and molecular features. However, one important factor delaying this process is the struggle to formulate robust species concepts to create adequate international phytosanitary measures. Regardless of the wide use of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA region, established as the primary DNA barcode for fungi, the tendency for intraspecific variation has been reported, misleading interpretation of phylogenetic analyses. Therefore, the present study aimed to illustrate, using specific examples, how the ITS region may be problematic for species delimitation. We showed that the ITS region is highly variable, with strains of Diaporthe malorum and Diaporthe novem falling into more than one clade, which if analyzed on their own, would be likely recognized as distinct taxa. Divergent ITS paralogs were also proven to coexist within the genome of D. novem. We also suggest that ITS may have escaped from concerted evolution or has undergone a duplication event. Furthermore, this study reports for the first time the existence of a putative hybrid in the genus Diaporthe. Our findings offer new clues towards the intraspecific and intragenomic variation in the ITS region, raising questions about its value for barcoding, i.e., identifying species in the genus Diaporthe. Therefore, we recommend that the ITS region be analyzed cautiously and always compared for congruence prior to description of novel taxa., (Copyright © 2021 British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The genus Emericellopsis is found in terrestrial, but mainly in marine, environments with a worldwide distribution. Although Emericellopsis has been recognized as an important source of bioactive compounds, the range of metabolites expressed by the species of this genus, as well as the genes involved in their production are still poorly known. Untargeted metabolomics, using UPLC- QToF-MS/MS, and genome sequencing (Illumina HiSeq) was performed to unlock E . cladophorae MUM 19.33 chemical diversity. The genome of E . cladophorae is 26.9 Mb and encodes 8572 genes. A large set of genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), secreted proteins, transporters, and secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters were identified. Our analysis also revealed genomic signatures that may reflect a certain fungal adaptability to the marine environment, such as genes encoding for (1) the high-osmolarity glycerol pathway; (2) osmolytes' biosynthetic processes; (3) ion transport systems, and (4) CAZymes classes allowing the utilization of marine polysaccharides. The fungal crude extract library constructed revealed a promising source of antifungal (e.g., 9,12,13-Trihydroxyoctadec-10-enoic acid, hymeglusin), antibacterial (e.g., NovobiocinA), anticancer (e.g., daunomycinone, isoreserpin, flavopiridol), and anti-inflammatory (e.g., 2'-O-Galloylhyperin) metabolites. We also detected unknown compounds with no structural match in the databases used. The metabolites' profiles of E . cladophorae MUM 19.33 fermentations were salt dependent. The results of this study contribute to unravel aspects of the biology and ecology of this marine fungus. The genome and metabolome data are relevant for future biotechnological exploitation of the species.

Aspergillus section Circumdati encompasses several species that express both beneficial (e.g., biochemical transformation of steroids and alkaloids, enzymes and metabolites) and harmful compounds (e.g., production of ochratoxin A (OTA)). Given their relevance, it is important to analyze the genetic and metabolic diversity of the species of this section. We sequenced the genome of Aspergillus affinis CMG 70, isolated from sea water, and compared it with the genomes of species from section Circumdati , including A. affinis 's strain type. The A. affinis genome was characterized considering secondary metabolites biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), and transporters. To uncover the biosynthetic potential of A. affinis CMG 70, an untargeted metabolomics (LC-MS/MS) approach was used. Cultivating the fungus in the presence and absence of sea salt showed that A. affinis CMG 70 metabolite profiles are salt dependent. Analyses of the methanolic crude extract revealed the presence of both unknown and well-known Aspergillus compounds, such as ochratoxin A, anti-viral (e.g., 3,5-Di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid and epigallocatechin), anti-bacterial (e.g., 3-Hydroxybenzyl alcohol, l-pyroglutamic acid, lecanoric acid), antifungal (e.g., lpyroglutamic acid, 9,12,13-Trihydroxyoctadec-10-enoic acid, hydroxyferulic acid), and chemotherapeutic (e.g., daunomycinone, mitoxantrone) related metabolites. Comparative analysis of 17 genomes from 16 Aspergillus species revealed abundant CAZymes (568 per species), secondary metabolite BGCs (73 per species), and transporters (1359 per species). Some BGCs are highly conserved in this section (e.g., pyranonigrin E and UNII-YC2Q1O94PT (ACR toxin I)), while others are incomplete or completely lost among species (e.g., bikaverin and chaetoglobosins were found exclusively in series Sclerotiorum , while asperlactone seemed completely lost). The results of this study, including genome analysis and metabolome characterization, emphasize the molecular diversity of A. affinis CMG 70, as well as of other species in the section Circumdati .

Delimitation of species boundaries within the fungal genus Diaporthe has been challenging, but the analyses of combined multilocus DNA sequences has become an important tool to infer phylogenetic relationships and to circumscribe species. However, analyses of congruence between individual gene genealogies and the application of the genealogical concordance principle have been somehow overlooked. We noted that a group of species including D. amygdali, D. garethjonesii, D. sterilis, D. kadsurae, D. ternstroemia, D. ovoicicola, D. fusicola, D. chongqingensis and D. mediterranea, commonly known as D. amygdali complex, occupy a monophyletic clade in Diaporthe phylogenies but the limits of all species within the complex are not entirely clear. To assess the boundaries of species within this complex we employed the Genealogical Concordance Phylogenetic Species Recognition principle (GCPSR) and coalescence-based models: General Mixed Yule-Coalescent (GMYC) and Poisson Tree Processes (PTP). The incongruence detected between individual gene phylogenies, as well as the results of coalescent methods do not support the recognition of lineages within the complex as distinct species. Moreover, results support the absence of reproductive isolation and barriers to gene flow in this complex, thus providing further evidence that the D. amygdali species complex constitutes a single species. This study highlights the relevance of the application of the GCPSR principle, showing that concatenation analysis of multilocus DNA sequences, although being a powerful tool, might lead to an erroneous definition of species limits. Additionally, it further shows that coalescent methods are useful tools to assist in a more robust delimitation of species boundaries in the genus Diaporthe., (Copyright © 2021 British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

DNA sequence analysis has been of the utmost importance to delimit species boundaries in the genus Diaporthe . However, the common practice of combining multiple genes, without applying the genealogical concordance criterion has complicated the robust delimitation of species, given that phylogenetic incongruence between loci has been disregarded. Despite the several attempts to delineate the species boundaries in the D. eres complex, the phylogenetic limits within this complex remain unclear. In order to bridge this gap, we employed the Genealogical Phylogenetic Species Recognition principle (GCPSR) and the coalescent-based model Poisson Tree Processes (PTPs) and evaluated the presence of recombination within the D. eres complex. Based on the GCPSR principle, presence of incongruence between individual gene genealogies, i.e., conflicting nodes and branches lacking phylogenetic support, was evident. Moreover, the results of the coalescent model identified D. eres complex as a single species, which was not consistent with the current large number of species within the complex recognized in phylogenetic analyses. The absence of reproductive isolation and barriers to gene flow as well as the high haplotype and low nucleotide diversity indices within the above-mentioned complex suggest that D. eres constitutes a population rather than different lineages. Therefore, we argue that a cohesive approach comprising genealogical concordance criteria and methods to detect recombination must be implemented in future studies to circumscribe species in the genus Diaporthe .

Lignicolous marine fungi are a particular group of microorganisms that are typically found in mangroves, salt marshes, and estuaries, normally associated with driftwood or submerged wood. During investigations of lignicolous fungi occurring in the estuary Ria de Aveiro, Portugal, wood baits were submerged in a marina for 1 year. Seventeen distinct marine fungal species were identified, with the most abundant taxa belonging to the family Lulworthiaceae. Through single- and multilocus phylogenies based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and large subunit (28S) and small subunit (18S) of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster in combination with morphological and physiological data, we describe Remispora submersa , sp. nov., and Zalerion pseudomaritima , sp. nov., as novel species. Additionally, we propose that Papulaspora halima , a species whose taxonomic placement has been somehow confusing, be transferred to the genus Paralulworthia as Paralulworthia halima .