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New CoII substituted malonate field-induced molecular magnets [Rb6Co3(cpdc)6(H2O)12]∙6H2On (1) and [Cs2Co(cpdc)2(H2O)6]n (2) (where cpdc2− stands for cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylic acid dianions) were synthesized. Both compounds contain mononuclear bischelate fragments CoII(cpdc)2(H2O)22− where the quasi-octahedral cobalt environment (CoO6) is complemented by water molecules in apical positions. The alkali metal atoms play the role of connectors between the bischelate fragments to form 3D and 2D polymeric structures for 1 and 2, respectively. Analysis of dc magnetic data using the parametric Griffith Hamiltonian for high-spin CoII supported by ab initio calculations revealed that both compounds have an easy axis of magnetic anisotropy. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibit slow magnetic relaxation under an external magnetic field (HDC = 1000 and 1500 Oe, respectively).

Morphometric and genetic characterization of many Apis mellifera subspecies are well-documented. A . m . jemenetica occurs naturally in Africa and Asia. In this study, genetic variation of mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase II ( COII ) and III ( COIII ) were analysed in 133 specimens of the endemic honeybee colonies within Saudi Arabia. The COII gene sequence length was 684 bp comprising nine synonymous (1.3%) and two non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (0.87%). Five variants of COII were not previously documented, one variant (MT755968) showed an extra restriction site when subjected to type II restriction endonuclease from Arthrobacter protophormiae ( Apol ) or to Haemophilus influenzae Rf ( Hinf1 ). Changes in COII sequence separated samples into three haplogroups. Whereas, COIII gene sequence length was 780 bp, including 18 synonymous and five non-synonymous SNPs. Furthermore, variation in COII sequence was more informative based on restriction profiles and on amino acid changes compared with COIII gene sequence. Variants of COIII showed identical restriction sites when subjected to type II restriction endonuclease from Deinococcus radiophilus ( DraI ), and revealed high similarity to African subspecies. Results of this study are very useful in understanding genetic diversity and characterization of A . mellifera subspecies.

Calliptamus italicus L. is an important pest on the desert and semidesert steppes along the Sino-Kazakh border. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of its continuous outbreaks, we studied 11 different geographic populations of C. italicus to determine: 1) the complete sequences of the entire mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII) genes, and 2) performed genetic diversity, differentiation, gene flow, and molecular variation analyses. Of the 11 populations, theYining County (YNX) population had the highest haplotype diversity and Pi values. There are significant differences in Tajima's D and Fu's Fs (P < 0.05). The fixation index Fst values of the total C. italicus population were 0.03352, and its gene flow Nm values of the total C. italicus population were 15.32. Taken together, there were five main findings: 1) the current genetic differentiation of C. italicus arose within populations; 2) genetic exchange levels were high between geographical populations; 3) genetic variation level was low; 4) C. italicus populations likely expanded in recently, and 5) there was no significant correlation between genetic distance and geographic distance for any geographic population. Findings from this study indicate that frequent gene exchange between populations may enhance the adaptability of C. italicus along the Sino-Kazakh border, leading to frequent outbreaks.

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are important pests of numerous crops worldwide. Some members of this genus have a quarantine status, and accurate species identification is required to prevent further spreading. DNA barcoding is a method for organism identification in non-complex DNA backgrounds based on informative motifs in short DNA stretches (≈600 bp). As part of the EU 7th Framework project QBOL, 15 Meloidogyne species were chosen to compare the resolutions offered by two typical DNA barcoding loci, COI and COII, with the distinguishing signals produced by two ribosomal DNA genes (small and large subunit rDNA; SSU ≈ 1,700 and LSU ≈ 3,400 bp). None of the four markers distinguished between the tropical species Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica and M. arenaria. Taking P ID (Liberal) values ≥0.93 as a measure for species delimitation, the four mtDNA and rDNA markers performed well for the tropical Meloidogyne species complex, M. enterolobii, M. hapla, and M. maritima. Within cluster III A (Holterman et al. Phytopathology, 99, 227–235, 2009), SSU rDNA did not offer resolution at species level. Both mtDNA loci COI and COII did, whereas for LSU rDNA a longer fragment (≥700 bp) is required. The high level of mitochondrial heteroplasmy recently reported for M. chitwoodi (Humphreys-Pereira and Elling Nematology, 15, 315–327, 2013) was not found in the populations under investigation, suggesting this could be a regional phenomenon. For identification of RKNs, we suggest the combined use of SSU rDNA with one of three other markers presented here.

Some previous genetic studies have been performed to resolve the molecular phylogenetics of the squirrel monkeys ( Saimiri ). However, these studies did not show consensus in how many taxa are within this genus and what the relationships among them are. For this reason, we sequenced 2,237 base pairs of the mt COI and COII genes in 218 Saimiri individuals. All, less 12 S . sciureus sciureus from French Guyana, were sampled in the wild. These samples represented all the living Saimiri taxa recognized. There were four main findings of this study. (1) Our analysis detected 17 different Saimiri groups: albigena , cassiquiarensis , five polyphyletic macrodon groups, three polyphyletic ustus groups, sciureus , collinsi , boliviensis , peruviensis , vanzolinii , oerstedii and citrinellus. Four different phylogenetic trees showed the Central American squirrel monkey ( S . oerstedii ) as the most differentiated taxon. In contrast, albigena was indicated to be the most recent taxon. (2) There was extensive hybridization and/or historical introgression among albigena , different macrodon groups, peruviensis, sciureus and collinsi . (3) Different tests showed that our maximum likelihood tree was consistent with two species of Saimiri : S . oerstedii and S . sciureus . If no cases of hybridization were detected implicating S . vanzolinii , this could be a third recognized species. (4) We also estimated that the first temporal splits within this genus occurred around 1.4–1.6 million years ago, which indicates that the temporal split events within Saimiri were correlated with Pleistocene climatic changes. If the biological species concept is applied because, in this case, it is operative due to observed hybridization in the wild, the number of species within this genus is probably more limited than recently proposed by other authors. The Pleistocene was the fundamental epoch when the mitochondrial Saimiri diversification process occurred.

The population genetic structure of Simulium tani was inferred from mitochondria-encoded sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunits I (COI) and II (COII) along an elevational gradient in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. A statistical parsimony network of 71 individuals revealed 71 haplotypes in the COI gene and 43 haplotypes in the COII gene; the concatenated sequences of the COI and COII genes revealed 71 haplotypes. High levels of genetic diversity but low levels of genetic differentiation were observed among populations of S. tani at five elevations. The degree of genetic diversity, however, was not in accordance with an altitudinal gradient, and a Mantel test indicated that elevation did not have a limiting effect on gene flow. No ancestral haplotype of S. tani was found among the populations. Pupae with unique structural characters at the highest elevation showed a tendency to form their own haplotype cluster, as revealed by the COII gene. Tajima's D, Fu's Fs, and mismatch distribution tests revealed population expansion of S. tani in Cameron Highlands. A strong correlation was found between nucleotide diversity and the levels of dissolved oxygen in the streams where S. tani was collected.

Species of the fly genus Lucilia are commonly used in forensic investigations to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI). Two close-related species Lucilia caesar and L. illustris are difficult to identify. Previous studies showed that the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) marker could be used to identify many Lucilia species. However, mixed results were obtained for L. caesar and L. illustris due to some European specimens showing identical haplotypes. Here, we investigated 58 new European male specimens of L. illustris and L. caesar whose morphological identifications were checked and for which COI fragments were sequenced. In addition, two other mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit II and 16S) and two nuclear (internal transcribed spacer 2 and 28S ribosomal RNA) markers were obtained for a subset of these samples. For each marker, genetic divergence within each species was in the same range as between species, confirming the close relationship between both species. Moreover, for each of the gene fragments, both species shared at least one haplotype/genotype. Hence, none of the molecular markers tested could be used, alone or in combination, to discriminate between L. illustris and L. caesar.

The correct identification of sand fly vectors of leishmaniasis is important for controlling the disease. Genetic, particularly DNA sequence data, has lately become an important adjunct to the use of morphological criteria for this purpose. A recent DNA sequencing study revealed the presence of two cryptic species in the Sergentomyia bailyi species complex in India. The present study was undertaken to ascertain the presence of cryptic species in the Se. bailyi complex in Sri Lanka using morphological characteristics and DNA sequences from cytochrome c oxidase subunits. Sand flies were collected from leishmaniasis endemic and non-endemic dry zone districts of Sri Lanka. A total of 175 Se. bailyi specimens were initially screened for morphological variations and the identified samples formed two groups, tentatively termed as Se. bailyi species A and B, based on the relative length of the sensilla chaeticum and antennal flagellomere. DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and subunit II (COII) genes of morphologically identified Se. bailyi species A and B were subsequently analyzed. The two species showed differences in the COI and COII gene sequences and were placed in two separate clades by phylogenetic analysis. An allele specific polymerase chain reaction assay based on sequence variation in the COI gene accurately differentiated species A and B. The study therefore describes the first morphological and genetic evidence for the presence of two cryptic species within the Se. bailyi complex in Sri Lanka and a DNA-based laboratory technique for differentiating them.

has a wide distribution throughout the world and can transmit Chikungunya virus, West Nile Virus (WNV), Tahyna virus and the bacterium . Sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome C-oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and cytochrome C-oxidase subunit 2 (COII) genes have been widely used to estimate phylogenetic relationships at different taxonomic levels among this species. Adult collections were carried out by human bait, Center for Deseases Control Light Traps (CDC-LT) and aspirator during February/April, June and October/December 2013-2015 from different southern provinces of Iran and then identified morphologically with reliable keys. A total of 3,570 adult mosquitoes were collected and identified as belonging to three genera, including five species of Culex, six species of Aedes and one species of Culiseta. In this study, 1,796 specimens of were identified from four provinces. Based on the COI and COII sequences obtained for population, 12 and 11 haplotypes were identified, respectively. The present study evidenced a high degree of intraspecific variation among these populations of .

Mitochondrial genotypes of Africanized honeybees from Brazil and Uruguay were surveyed by DraI restriction of the COI-COII region. Eleven mitotypes were found, three of which had not previously been described (A28-A30). Out of 775 samples (725 from Brazil, 50 from Uruguay), 197 were A1 and 520 were A4. A1 frequency increases toward the north of Brazil, whereas A4 frequency increases toward the south, a pattern echoing the African distribution. The origin of the A4 and most of the A1 African patterns can be attributed to the introduction of Apis mellifera scutellata into Brazil in 1956. The A29 and A30 patterns have the P1 sequence observed in many Iberian Peninsula samples, which represent the traces of the introductions into Brazil and Uruguay by settlers.