We describe and delimit with integrative taxonomy the new springtail species Desoria calderonis sp. nov. (Collembola: Isotomidae). This cryophilic is strictly linked to supraglacial stony debris of isolated Calderone glacier (Central Apennines, Italy), one southernmost glaciers Europe. could belong nivalis-complex, a group European mountain included in violacea-group. Genetic analysis (COI mtDNA barcoding) confirms morphological attribution genus Nicolet Desor, 1841, but highlights that...

Complete mitochondrial genome data are frequently applied to address phylogenetic/phylogeographic issues at different taxonomic levels in ecology and evolution. While sample preparation/sequencing is becoming more straightforward thanks dropping costs for next-generation sequencing (NGS), preparation visualization remains a manually intensive step that may lead errors if improperly conducted. We have elaborated, here introduce, EZmito, simple intuitive, freely accessible Web Server aimed...

Abstract Plastic pollution is a significant environmental challenge of contemporary age. Polystyrene (PS), among the most commonly used plastic polymers worldwide, highly durable and difficult to degrade. Despite various disposal strategies, PS continues impact biodiversity, human health, ecosystems. Recently, scientific community has focused on potential role microorganisms for biodegradation, particularly those from gut plastivorous insects. In previous study, three bacterial strains, each...

Springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) are unique among Alpine arthropods for including cryophilic species, able to live in contact with glacial ice, the so‐called ‘glacier fleas’. Despite being historically recorded, their taxonomy and distribution largely unknown. In this article, we present first comprehensive study of ice‐dwelling springtails (family Isotomidae) European Alps Apennines. Morphological molecular analyses two mitochondrial genes ( cox1 16S ) were performed after an extensive...

Abstract Isolation and extreme environmental conditions have significantly impacted terrestrial invertebrate biodiversity in Antarctica, with glacial cycles further limiting animal diversity to a small number of species. Among these, springtails are relatively abundant, though their taxonomic remains low. Antarctic glaciers may serve as major dispersal barriers, leading high levels genetic divergence among isolated populations. In Victoria Land (continental Antarctica), the Tucker Glacier...

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway is pivotal in controlling the proliferation and survival of melanoma cells. Several mutations, including those BRAF, exhibit an oncogenic effect leading to increased cellular proliferation. As a result, combination therapy MEK inhibitor with BRAF demonstrated higher efficacy lower toxicity than alone. This has become preferred standard care for tumors driven by mutations. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1) known marker stemness...

Abstract Plastic pollution has become a serious issue of global concern, and biodegradation plastic wastes is representing one attractive environment-friendly alternative to traditional disposal paths. It known that insects are involved in the polymer degradation process, with reported evidence tenebrionid beetle larvae capable degrade polystyrene (PS), most used plastics worldwide. Recently, ribosomal RNA based survey on insect gut microbiota lesser mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus revealed...

Collembola are an ancient and early diverging lineage of basal hexapods that occur in virtually all terrestrial habitats on Earth. Phylogenetic relationships between the different orders fiercely debated. Despite a range studies application both morphological genetic approaches (singly or combination) to assess evolutionary major lineages group, no consensus has been reached. Several mitogenome sequences have published for key taxa class (and their number is increasing rapidly). Here, we...

Abstract The Japanese beetle Popillia japonica is a pest insect that feeds on hundreds of species wild and cultivated plants including important fruit, vegetable, field crops. Native to Japan, the has invaded large areas USA, Canada, Azores (Portugal), Italy, Ticino (Switzerland), it considered priority for control in European Union. We determined complete mitochondrial genome sequence 86 individuals covering entire distribution species. Phylogenetic analysis supports major division between...

Abstract Collembola are a key component of the soil biota globally, playing an important role in community and ecosystem dynamics. Equally significant their associated microbiomes, that can contribute to metabolic functions. In present study, we investigated bacterial composition four Antarctic springtail species assess if how extreme environment has shaped collembolans’ microbiomes. Springtails were collected from two biogeographical regions, maritime continental Antarctic. From each...

Springtails and mites are the dominant groups of terrestrial arthropods in Antarctic ecosystems. Their diversity includes a limited number species, which frequently endemic to specific regions within continent. Advances molecular techniques, combined with re-evaluation morphological characters availability new samples, have recently led identification springtail species previously named, but ill-defined, entities described last century. One such neanurid Friesea grisea, originally from...

Abstract Background The spread of Popillia japonica in non-native areas (USA, Canada, the Azores islands, Italy and Switzerland) poses a significant threat to agriculture horticulture, as well endemic floral biodiversity, entailing that appropriate control measures must be taken reduce its density limit further spread. In this context, availability high quality genomic sequence for species is liable foster basic research on ecology evolution species, possible biotechnologically-oriented...

Abstract The temperature experienced by micro-invertebrates in extreme environments (such as those of Antarctica) is a pivotal parameter regarding these animals' ecology and physiology. However, at present, detailed knowledge microhabitat physical conditions Antarctica limited, well being biased towards sub-Antarctic Maritime Antarctic regions. To better understand the microhabitats Continental native microfauna, we recorded temperatures year round ponds soils an area Victoria Land coast...

Abstract Background The group XIV of C-type lectin domain-containing proteins (CTLDcps) is one the seventeen groups CTLDcps discovered in mammals and composed by four members: CD93, Clec14A, CD248 Thrombomodulin, which have shown to be important players cancer vascular biology. Although these belong same family, their phylogenetic relationship has never been dissected. To resolve evolution characterize protein domain composition we investigated CTLDcp genes gnathostomes cyclostomes and,...

Protozoa, of the taxon Gregarinasina, are a heterogeneous group Apicomplexa that includes ~1600 species. They parasites large variety both marine and terrestrial invertebrates, mainly annelids, arthropods mollusks. Unlike coccidians heamosporidians, gregarines have not proven to negative effect on human welfare; thus, they been poorly investigated. This study focuses molecular identification phylogeny gregarine species found in midgut two insect considered as an alternative source animal...

Symphypleona (sensu stricto) are a group of Collembola (=springtails) that, despite displaying some variation in gene order, have been poorly investigated under the phylomitogenomic perspective. How families and subfamilies this taxon evolutionary related is still partially unknown. For reason we sequenced, herein described, complete mitochondrial genome sequence Allacma fusca (Sminthuridae). This sequence, alongside others from literature, here used to study phylogenetic relationships among...

Abstract Secondary structures have long been held to carry significant phylogenetic information, but the difficulty in collating primary sequence and structural information has frequently hindered its full application studies. Here, we focus on implementation of secondary structure (inner, outer transmembrane regions) improve partitioning datasets mitochondrial Protein-Coding Genes for analysis. A new pipeline called TRAMPO was developed partition alignment sites accordingly. The inclusion...

SmithRNAs (Small MITochondrial Highly-transcribed RNAs) are a novel class of small RNA molecules that encoded in the mitochondrial genome and regulate expression nuclear transcripts. Initial evidence for their existence came from Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum, where they have been described whose activity has biologically validated through injection experiments. Current on these RNAs other species is based only sequencing. As preliminary step to characterize smithRNAs across different...

The complete mitochondrial genome of the shining leaf chafer

The complete mitochondrial genome of the machilid Trigoniophthalmus alternatus (Silvestri 1904) is herein described and applied to phylogenetic analyses, inclusive most early-divergent lineages hexapods. Both gene content order generally conform with organization arthropods' genome. One translocation involving trnA autapomorphic character observed in this species. Another peculiar molecular feature long size A + T-rich region, due occurrence repeat units. analyses support typical placement,...

The complete mitochondrial genome of the springtail Bourletiella arvalis (Fitch, 1863) is herein described and applied to a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis, inclusive all Collembola DNAs sequenced so far. gene content order, as well nucleotide composition, conform with well-known features hexapods’ genomes. analysis supports monophyly Collembola, Poduromorpha, Entomobryomorpha Symphypleona. However, no mtDNA from Neelipleona available date, therefore limiting application genomes further...

The gut microbiome can play a fundamental role in several processes associated with an organism’s ecology, and research on the microbiota of wild animals has flourished last decades. Microbiome composition vary across within species according to taxonomy environmental variability, including availability food resources. Species large distribution may exhibit spatial patterns acting at local/regional scales. We considered one most widespread ecologically important predators world, i.e., grey...

Abstract Global human activities, such as greenhouse emissions and pollution, are promoting global warming, environmental changes biodiversity reduction. Pristine environments those of Antarctica not immune to these phenomena, is noticeable from the increasing pace temperature shift registered within continent in recent decades. In this study, we describe first de novo transcriptome analysis endemic Antarctic springtail (= collembolan) Cryptopygus terranovus evaluate its gene expression...

The complete mitochondrial genome of the true bug (Homoptera) Nysius cymoides (Spinola, 1837) is herein described and used for phylogenetic comparison with other species Lygaeoidea. mtDNA has a gene order molecular features typically observed in hexapods, long A + T-rich region, due to occurrence several repeat units. analyses support monophyly all families except Rhyparochromidae.