Micaela Parra

Aureobasidium pullulans is a yeast‐like fungus with remarkable phenotypic plasticity widely studied for its importance for the pharmaceutical and food industries. So far, genomic studies with strains from all over the world suggest they constitute a genetically unstructured population, with no association by habitat. However, the mechanisms by which this genome supports so many phenotypic permutations are still poorly understood. Recent works have shown the importance of sequencing yeast genomes from extreme environments to increase the repertoire of phenotypic diversity of unconventional yeasts. In this study, we present the genomic draft of A. pullulans strain from a Patagonian yeast diversity hotspot, re‐evaluate its taxonomic classification based on taxogenomic approaches, and annotate its genome with high‐depth transcriptomic data. Our analysis suggests this isolate could be considered a novel variant at an early stage of the speciation process. The discovery of divergent strains in a genomically homogeneous group, such as A. pullulans, can be valuable in understanding the evolution of the species. The identification and characterization of new variants will not only allow finding unique traits of biotechnological importance, but also optimize the choice of strains whose phenotypes will be characterized, providing new elements to explore questions about plasticity and adaptation.

<i>Liolaemus avilae</i> sp. nov. (Figures 6, 7) <b>1971</b>, <i>Liolaemus lineomaculatus</i>, Donoso-Barros, R. and Cei, J.M., <i>Journal of Herpetology</i>, 5, 89– 95. <b>1975</b>, <i>Liolaemus lineomaculatus,</i> Cei, J.M., <i>Herpetologica</i>, 31, 109 – 116. <b>1982,</b> <i>Liolaemus lineomaculatus</i>, Cei, J.M. and Scolaro, J.A., <i>Journal of Herpetology</i>, 16, 354 – 363. <b>1992</b>, <i>Liolaemus lineomaculatus,</i> Scolaro, J.A., <i>Acta zoologica lilloana</i>, 41, 287 – 293. <b>Holotype.</b> MLP.S 2627 (Figure 7), an adult male from Lago Buenos Aires plateau, 18.7 SW Puesto Lebrun, Lago Buenos Aires department, Santa Cruz province, Argentina (47 º05'29.0" S, 71 º01' 12.9 " W, 1154 m) (Figures 5, 8), L.J. Avila, C.H.F. Pérez, M.F. Breitman and N. Feltrin collectors, 9 th January 2008. <b>Paratypes</b>. LJAMM-CNP 9250, 9253, 9274, adult males, LJAMM-CNP 9276 -9277, 9399, adult females and LJAMM-CNP 9251, 9252, juveniles; from same locality as holotype, L.J. Avila, C.H.F. Pérez, M.F. Breitman and N. Feltrin collectors, 9 January 2008. LJAMM-CNP 9243, an adult male from Puesto Lebrun, 27.3 km W Estancia La Vizcaina, Lago Buenos Aires Plateau, Lago Buenos Aires department, Santa Cruz province, Argentina (46 º 57 ' 51.8 " S, 71 º06' 27.2 " W, 1353 m), L.J. Avila, C.H.F. Pérez, M.F. Breitman and N. Feltrin collectors, 8 th January 2008. <b>Diagnosis.</b> <i>Liolaemus avilae</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, a member of the <i>L. lineomaculatus</i> section and specifically the <i>lineomaculatus</i> group, has dorsal trifid scales but lacks of precloacal pores in either sex (Etheridge 1995); molecular evidence places this species in the <i>lineomaculatus</i> group, as the sister species to <i>L. lineomaculatus</i> (Breitman <i>et al</i>. 2011; see Tables 1 to 4 and Figure 6). Relative to <i>L. morandae</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>L. avilae</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> has more scales in contact with the interparietal scale (7– 10, X = 8,13 vs. 6–7, X = 6.33; <i>p</i> = 0.0027), fewer supralabial scales (5–6, X = 5.25 vs. 5–10, X = 7.17 [...]

<i>Liolaemus morandae</i> sp. nov. (Figure 3–6) <b>2001</b>, <i>Liolaemus lineomaculatus,</i> Ibargüengoytía, N., Casalins, L., Schulte II, J.A., Amico, G.A. and Sympson, L., <i>Herpetological Review</i>, 32, 120. <b>Holotype.</b> MLP.S 2626 (Figure 3), an adult male from Provincial Road 37, 22.8 km SW junction National Road 3, Escalante department, Chubut province, Argentina (45 ° 41 '10,6" S; 67 ° 53 '49,9" W, 693 m) (Figures 4, 5); L.J. Avila, M. Kozykariski, M.F. Breitman and R. Martinez collectors, 12 th March 2010. <b>Paratypes.</b> LJAMM-CNP 13020, adult female and LJAMM-CNP 13021, juvenile; same locality as holotype. LJAM-CNP 9677-9679, adult females and LJAMM-CNP 9680, juvenile; from Holdich station, Escalante department, Chubut province, Argentina (45 º 58 '00.1" S; 68 º 11 ' 58.8 " W, 761 m); L.J. Avila, C.H.F. Pérez, M.F. Breitman and N. Feltrin collectors, 2 nd February 2008. LJAMM-CNP 10201, adult male and LJAM-CNP 10202, juvenile; from Provincial Road 37, 2.5 km W junction National Road 3, Escalante department, Chubut province, Argentina (45 º 37 ' 43.4 " S; 67 º 41 '03.6" W, 637 m); L.J. Avila, C.H.F. Pérez, M.F. Breitman and N. Feltrin collectors, 2 nd February 2008. <b>Diagnosis.</b> <i>Liolaemus morandae</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> is a member of the <i>L. lineomaculatus</i> section, included in the <i>lineomaculatus</i> group, and is characterized by the absence of precloacal pores in both sexes, and presence of dorsal trifid scales (Etheridge 1995). Molecular evidence includes this species in the <i>lineomaculatus</i> group, closely related to the clade (<i>L. sp.</i> 2 + <i>L. lineomaculatus</i>) Figure 1. All the following differences are summarized in Tables 1 to 4 and in Figure 6. Relative to <i>L. lineomaculatus</i>, <i>L. morandae</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> has fewer dorsal scales (47–57, X = 51.67 vs. 52–68, X = 58.41; <i>p</i> <0.0001), fewer third finger lamellae (13–16, X = 15.33 vs. 14–19, X = 16,18; <i>p</i> <0.0001), shorter fourth toe length (13.4–16.8, X = 14.9 vs. 12.6–16.1, X = 14.09; [...]

FIGURE 5. Morphological comparison between Liolaemus magellanicus (left) and L. caparensis sp. nov. (right). Differences in dorsal scales are shown in blue/light blue, in L. magellanicus scales are more mucronated than in L. caparensis sp. nov.; differences in dorsal scales of hindlimbs are shown in green/light green, in L. magellanicus scales are more mucronated and less carinated than in L. caparensis sp. nov. Notice differences in color pattern on the tails, size of blotches on the limbs, and the differences in vertebral lines.

FIGURE 4. Distribution map for species of the magellanicus group, with localities sampled superimposed on regional elevation (shading). White square: Liolaemus caparensis sp. nov.; black squares: distribution of L. magellanicus; black and gray squares: L. magellanicus localities used in this study from LJAMM-CNP collection. Arrow indicates type locality of L. magellanicus (in Chile). SC: Santa Cruz province. Notice L. caparensis sp. nov. distribution does not overlap with the distribution of L. magellanicus (south of the Santa Cruz river).

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) refers to tumors that do not express clinically significant levels of estrogen and progesterone receptors, and lack membrane overexpression or gene amplification of ErbB-2 tyrosine kinase receptor. Transcriptome and proteome heterogeneity of TNBC poses a major challenge to precision medicine. Gene expression analyses have categorized TNBC into distinct molecular subtypes. Up to 78% of clinical TNBCs belong to the basal-like (BL) subtype. Here we found ErbB-2 in an unanticipated scenario: the nucleus of TNBC (NErbB-2). Our study on ErbB-2 alternative splicing, using a PCR-sequencing approach combined with RNA interference, revealed that BL TNBC cells express the canonical ErbB-2 (WTErbB-2), encoded by transcript 1, and the non-canonical isoform c, encoded by alternative transcript 3 (T3). The latter was not previously reported in normal or malignant cells. To characterize the isoform c we designed siRNAs targeting T3 (T3 siRNAs), which silenced up...

Two new species of the lineomaculatus clade of the Liolaemus lineomaculatus section are described from southern Patagonia in Argentina. Liolaemus morandae sp. nov. is found in S Chubut province and Liolaemus avilae sp. nov. inhabits NW Santa Cruz province. Several tests were performed to diagnose these new species as distinct lineages. Univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant function analysis (DFA), non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance (NPMANOVA), as well as a genetic characterization through molecular analysis of variance (AMOVA) were performed; genetic distances between described and these new species are reported. The new Liolaemus species differ from other members of the lineomaculatus group in morphometric, meristic, qualitative and genetic characters; moreover they inhabit different phytogeographical provinces and districts. With these descriptions, the number of species now recognized in the lineomaculatus section ...

FIGURE 6. Morphological comparison between Liolaemus morandae sp. nov. (A), L. lineomaculatus (B) and L. avilae sp. nov. (C). Notice differences in color pattern on the tails, size of blotches on the limbs and differences in vertebral and paravertebral lines. Dorsal scales (shown on the right) are less mucronated in L. lineomaculatus. Dorsal scales of hindlimbs are less carinated in L. morandae sp. nov. than in the other species, while they are more mucronated in L. avilae sp. nov.

FIGURE 5. Distribution map for species of the lineomaculatus group, with geographical localities sampled in this study superimposed on regional elevation (shading). Black circles: L. morandae sp. nov.; white circle: L. avilae sp. nov.; black squares: L. lineomaculatus; white square: L. kolengh; white triangles: L. hatcheri; black triangle: L. silvanae. Arrows indicate type localities. CH: Chubut province; SC: Santa Cruz province.

FIGURE 2. Discriminant-function analysis summarizing principal components 1 – 6, for all six species of the L. lineomaculatus group. Black circles: L. morandae sp. nov.; white circles: L. avilae sp. nov.; black squares: L. lineomaculatus; white squares: L. kolengh; gray triangles: L. hatcheri; black triangles: L. silvanae.

FIGURE 1. Relationships between Liolaemus morandae sp. nov. and L. avilae sp. nov. within the L. lineomaculatus section, and selected species of the subgenus Eulaemus and Liolaemus sensu stricto. On the left, phylogenetic relationships recovered with Bayesian inference using seven nuclear genes (Cmos, ACM4tg, PRLR, LDA8F, LDA1D, LDA9C and LDA9E, 4180 bp total alignment length), bold branches represent well supported nodes (Pp> 0.95). On the right, the Bayesian tree (modified from Breitman et al. 2011) represents a concatenated analyses including the seven nuclear genes plus two mitochondrial genes (12S and cyt-b; 5865 bp) and summarizes information from MP and ML methods. Nodes with high support from three methods (MP, jackknife and ML bootstrap> 0.70; Bayesian Pp> 0.95) are identified by bold branches; solid circles show nodes with weak MP support and open circles nodes with weak MP and ML support.

FIGURE 1. Relationships between Liolaemus caparensis sp. nov. and species of the L. lineomaculatus section and selected species of the subgenus Eulaemus and Liolaemus sensu stricto. On the left, phylogenetic relationships recovered using seven nuclear genes (Cmos, ACM4tg, PRLR, LDA8F, LDA1D, LDA9C and LDA9E, 4180 bp total alignment length) with Bayesian species-tree inference; bold branches represent well supported nodes (Pp> 0.95). On the right, the Bayesian tree (modified from Breitman et al. 2011), represents a concatenated analyses (5865 bp) including the seven nuclear genes plus two mitochondrial genes (12S and cyt-b), and summarizes information from MP and ML methods. Nodes with high support from three methods (MP, jackknife and ML bootstrap>0.70; Bayesian Pp> 0.95) are identified by bold branches; solid circles show nodes with weak MP support, and open circles nodes with weak MP and ML support.

A new species of the Liolaemus lineomaculatus section is described from southwestern Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. The new species is a member of the monotypic magellanicus clade; morphological, molecular and geographical data are sufficient to diagnose this new species as distinct form from L. magellanicus. The new species differs from L. magellanicus in having higher number of midbody, dorsal and ventral scales, and higher number of infradigital third finger and fourth toe lamellae. The new species also differs in having smaller dorsal blotches on the hindlimbs and a more clearly defined vertebral line, fewer precloacal pores and reduced dorsal scale mucronation, compared to L. magellanicus. Liolaemus caparensis sp. nov. is the second species described for the magellanicus group, and is geographically isolated from L. magellanicus on the Campo Las Piedras Plateau, where it is sympatric with other endemic species of the L. lineomaculatus section.

High hepatitis C virus (HCV) genetic diversity impacts infectivity/pathogenicity, influencing chronic liver disease progression associated with fibrosis degrees and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV core protein is crucial in cell-growth regulation and host-gene expression. Liver fibrosis is accelerated by unknown mechanisms in human immunodeficiency virus-1- (HIV-1-) coinfected individuals. We aimed to study whether well-defined HCV-1a core polymorphisms and genetic heterogeneity are related to fibrosis in a highly homogeneous group of interferon-treated HIV-HCV-coinfected patients. Genetic heterogeneity was weighed by Faith's phylogenetic diversity (PD), which has been little studied in HCV. Eighteen HCV/HIV-coinfected patients presenting different liver fibrosis stages before anti-HCV treatment-initiation were recruited. Sampling at baseline and during and after treatment was performed up to 72 weeks. At inter/intrahost level, HCV-1a populations were studied using molecular cloni...

ABSTRACT This study reports nutrient allocation in different stages of gonadal development for two populations of the sea urchin Arbacia dufresnii off the Patagonian coast of Argentina (Nuevo Gulf and San Jorge Gulf). The biochemical composition of gonads was used to assess nutrient allocation by measuring ash, soluble protein, lipid and trichloroacetic acid-soluble carbohydrate concentrations, and absolute contents over a 24-month period. Reproductive output in terms of energy was calculated for females. Results were correlated with istological stage of the gonads. Soluble proteins were the main component for the Nuevo Gulf population while unmeasured organic material (i.e. insoluble proteins and nucleic acids, especially in testes) was revalent in gonads from San Jorge Gulf. Soluble protein and lipid concentrations followed the gonadal cycle, while carbohydrate concentration was almost negligible, especially in the Nuevo Gulf population. The different patterns in the gonadal cycle in the two populations were reflected in the biochemical composition of gonads. Concentrations and contents of the biochemical components and reproductive output were higher in the population from San Jorge Gulf owing to the larger size of gonads and gametes. These findings contribute to the better understanding of the plasticity of the reproductive biology of A. dufresnii in different environments.

High hepatitis C virus (HCV) genetic diversity impacts infectivity/pathogenicity, influencing chronic liver disease progression associated with fibrosis degrees and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV core protein is crucial in cell-growth regulation and host-gene expression. Liver fibrosis is accelerated by unknown mechanisms in human immunodeficiency virus-1- (HIV-1-) coinfected individuals. We aimed to study whether well-defined HCV-1a core polymorphisms and genetic heterogeneity are related to fibrosis in a highly homogeneous group of interferon-treated HIV-HCV-coinfected patients. Genetic heterogeneity was weighed by Faith’s phylogenetic diversity (PD), which has been little studied in HCV. Eighteen HCV/HIV-coinfected patients presenting different liver fibrosis stages before anti-HCV treatment-initiation were recruited. Sampling at baseline and during and after treatment was performed up to 72 weeks. At inter/intrahost level, HCV-1a populations were studied using molecular cloning and Sanger sequencing. Over 400 complete HCV-1a core sequences encompassing 573 positions of C were obtained. Amino acid substitutions found previously at positions 70 and 91 of HCV-1b core region were not observed. However, HCV genetic heterogeneity was higher in mild than in severe fibrosis cases. These results suggest a potential utility of PD as a virus-related factor associated with chronic hepatitis C progression. These observations should be reassessed in larger cohorts to corroborate our findings and assess other potential covariates.

Five patients (P) were followed-up for an average of 7.73years after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) initiation. Patients' immune and virological status were determined by periodical CD4+T-cell counts and HIV and HCV viral load. HCV populations were studied using longitudinal high throughput sequence data obtained in parallel by virological and immunological parameters. Two patients (P7, P28) with sub-optimal responses to HAART presented HCV viral loads significantly higher than those recorded for two patients (P1, P18) that achieved good responses to HAART. Interestingly, HCV populations from P7 and P28 displayed a stable phylogenetic structure, whereas HCV populations from P1 and P18showeda significant increase in their phylogenetic structure, followed by a decrease after achieving acceptable CD4+T-cell counts (>500 cell/μl). The fifth patient (P25) presented high HCV viral loads, preserved CD4+T-cell counts from baseline and all along the follow-up, and displa...