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 is twenty one (including one more description that is in press).
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.
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 histological 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 prevalent 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.
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