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Viral infections are associated with increased incidence of severe sepsis. Particularly during the early stages, type I interferons (IFNs) are known mediators of detrimental effects. However, the functional role of early interferon β (IFNβ) and its cellular source during sepsis in the context of preexisting viral infections has not been defined. Using the colon ascendens stent peritonitis (CASP) model, we demonstrate that IFNβ-/- and type I IFN receptor (IFNAR1)-/- mice were less susceptible to sepsis after pre-stimulation with the viral mimetic poly(I:C). Wild type (WT) mice treated with poly(I:C) exhibited altered expression patterns of TNF and IL-12p40 during CASP which were dependent on IFNβ or IFNAR1, suggesting a mechanism for the increased sepsis susceptibility of WT mice. Using a double cytokine reporter mouse model, we present novel data on the simultaneous expression of IFNβ and IL-12p40 on a single cell level during polymicrobial sepsis in vivo. Conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) were identified as primary source of IFNβ and the protective cytokine IL-12p40 after CASP surgery irrespective of poly(I:C) pre-stimulation. These data demonstrated that if polymicrobial sepsis is preceded by a viral infection, IFNβ and IL-12p40 are expressed by polyfunctional cDCs suggesting that these cells can play both detrimental and beneficial roles during sepsis development.

Grass shrimp of the genus Palaemon (Crustacea, Decapoda, Palaemonidae) occur worldwide in freshwater and saline wetlands. Palaemon species are frequently misidentified, and the genus itself has been reorganized several times. To clarify the intrageneric phylogenetic relationships and analyze the regional genetic diversity, we sequenced fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the nuclear Histone H3 (H3) genes from specimens collected along the northern Gulf of Mexico, where several morphologically similar Palaemon species reside. The generated sequences were combined with publicly available Palaemon sequences for phylogenetic and haplotype analyses. Our analyses indicate that the rostral formula is an unreliable character for species identification, that the Mississippi River does not act as a genetic barrier between the eastern and western populations, and that freshwater species are likely not derived from the saltwater species in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capitella spp. are found in marine and estuarine benthos world‐wide. They are often treated as environmental sentinels because they occur in high densities in areas of anthropogenic disturbance and organic pollution. However, there are many cryptic species around the world, often grouped into the Capitella capitata complex. Historically, these have been differentiated using allozymes and developmental studies. Recently, single‐gene sequencing, especially cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, and phylogenetic methods have been used to characterise populations around the world. We present molecular support and provide descriptions for five new Capitella spp. from the Gulf of Mexico: Capitella gomexa sp. n., Capitella mandingensis sp. n., Capitella tampe sp. n., Capitella maculosa sp. n. and Capitella loucindae sp. n. Two were recently differentiated on the basis of larval development and morphology. Additionally, we present an updated look at global Capitella phylogeny. While no apparent patterns of phylogeography were recovered, we did find support for a single origin of thoracic acicular spines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the recent proliferation of the non-native serpulid worm Ficopomatus enigmaticus in parts of Galveston Bay, Texas. Reef-like aggregations were first recovered from a settlement plate and a submerged brick at the Kemah Boardwalk Marina on 4 May 2023. By 20 May, similar growths were reported to us by the Kemah Boardwalk Marina on floating docks, boat hulls, propellers, and rudders. On June 8, nearby marinas remained unaffected. We confirmed the worms' species identities by noting their diagnostic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies how a world-leading technology-intensive firm organized to renew its architectural knowledge (AK) to escape the mirroring trap. On the strength of a longitudinal, in-depth, qualitative study, we develop a process model that identifies the phases, learning modes, and core design decisions that led to new AK. The analysis of our case highlights that the development of architectural and component knowledge could not be perfectly separated. Further, we infer that the renewal of AK can be attained through partial mirroring and by dissolving extant technical and organizational boundaries. Finally, we show how resource constraints affect the extent of AK generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palolo worms (Palola, Eunicidae) are best known for their annual mass spawnings, or 'risings,' in the South Pacific. Palola currently contains 14 morphologically similar species, mostly from shallow tropical waters. In this study, 60 specimens of Palola from nine locations in the tropical North Pacific and the Caribbean were sequenced for the two mitochondrial markers cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and 16S ribosomal RNA to infer phylogenetic relationships, genetic diversity, and phylogeography within the taxon. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using Bayesian statistics and parsimony. Vouchers of the same specimens were examined morphologically. Two major clades (A and B) can be distinguished within the monophyletic Palola. A number of individuals in clade B bear rows of ventral eyespots in the posterior body region, typical for swarming P. viridis and probably a synapomorphy for clade B. No morphological synapomorphy was found for clade A. Haplotypes from divergent clades often co-occur in the same location. Some haplotypes are geographically widespread, in one case covering the entire east-west expansion of the tropical Pacific. These results imply that despite the apparent absence of teleplanic larvae in eunicid polychaetes, long-distance dispersal is possible in at least some lineages of Palola., With the first taste of palolo I understood the Samoans' love for it. Certainly it suggested a salty caviar, but with something added, a strong, rich whiff of the mystery [...]