Background: Triatoma infestans is the most relevant vector of Chagas disease in the southern cone of South America. Since its genome has not yet been studied, sequencing of Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) is one of the most powerful tools for efficiently identifying large numbers of expressed genes in this insect vector. Results: In this work, we generated 826 ESTs, resulting in an increase of 47% in the number of ESTs available for T. infestans. These ESTs were assembled in 471 unique sequences, 151 of which represent 136 new genes for the Reduviidae family. Conclusions: Among the putative new genes for the Reduviidae family, we identified and described an interesting subset of genes involved in development and reproduction, which constitute potential targets for insecticide development.

Coralligenous bioconstructions are one of the Mediterranean’s most distinctive and biodiverse marine habitats. This research aimed to provide a preliminary characterization of macrobenthic coralligenous assemblages at four sites located in the Marine National Park of Karaburun-Sazan in Albania. We analyzed images obtained from videos recorded along underwater transects at two different depths. Over a total of 61 taxa (3 Rhodophyta, 2 Ochrophyta, 6 Chlorophyta, 30 Porifera, 5 Cnidaria, 3 Mollusca, 2 Annelida, 1 Arthropoda, 4 Bryozoa, 4 Echinodermata, and 1 Chordata), 53 were identified at the species level using taxonomic and semi-quantitative video image analysis, thus allowing an update to the Albanian coralligenous species list with 34 new species. This study revealed differences in species richness and composition among the investigated sites and between depths, with a high number of taxa exclusive to one site and a few taxa common to all sites. Seven taxa are protected by law, among which are the echinoderm Centrostephanus longispinus, included in the Bern (Annex II) and Barcelona (Annex II) Conventions and Habitat Directive (92/43 EEC) (Annex IV), and the sponges Spongia (Spongia) officinalis and S. (S.) lamella, included in Annex III of the Bern Convention. Only the alga Caulerpa cylindracea can be considered an alien species. Although preliminary, the present research indicated the occurrence of rich and diversified macrobenthic assemblages in the study area. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that video analysis can provide a biodiversity baseline within MPAs, where traditional methods involving invasive sampling cannot be applied, particularly in areas such as the Albanian coasts, where anthropogenic impacts have been historically significant. Finally, this work provides a first estimate of the structural biodiversity in a recently established marine protected area, thus representing the basis for subsequent monitoring.

Marine bioconstructions are complex habitats that represent a hotspot of biodiversity. Among Mediterranean bioconstructions, those thriving on mesophotic bottoms on southeastern Italian coasts are of particular interest due to their horizontal and vertical extension. In general, the communities that develop in the Mediterranean twilight zone encompassed within the first 30 m of depth are better known, while relatively few data are available on those at greater depths. By further investigating the diversity and structure of mesophotic bioconstructions in the southern Adriatic, we can improve our understanding of Mediterranean biodiversity while developing effective conservation strategies to preserve these habitats of particular interest. The dataset reported here comprises records of benthic marine taxa from algae and invertebrate mesophotic bioconstructions investigated at six sites along the southern Adriatic coast of Italy, at depths between approximately 25 and 65 m. The dataset contains a total of 1718 records, covering 11 phyla and 648 benthic taxa, of which 580 were recognized at the species level. These data could provide a reference point for further investigations with descriptive or management purposes, including the possible assessment of mesophotic bioconstructions as refuges for shallow-water species.

A comprehensive overview of the benthic assemblages associated with bioconstructions in the mesophotic zone of the southern Adriatic Sea is provided through a comparison of algal- and invertebrate-based bioconstructions. To characterize these bioconstructions, sampling was conducted at six sites along the Apulian coast (Italy). Algal-based bioconstructions were found in shallower areas and corresponded to coralligenous sensu stricto, while two distinct invertebrate-based bioconstructions, built by scleractinians and bivalves, were observed at greater depths. A multi-taxa approach, which recorded 511 benthic taxa, revealed significant differences in the taxonomic composition of their associated benthic assemblages, although similar species richness values were observed across all types of bioconstructions. Given the marked difference in terms of primary constructor species between the coralligenous sensu stricto and invertebrate bioconstructions, we propose referring to the latter as Mesophotic Coral Bioconstructions (MCB) and Mesophotic Oyster Bioconstructions (MOB). β-diversity analysis identified a turnover in benthic fauna along the North–South gradient, with higher β-diversity values between distant sites and lower values between nearby sites, likely driven by North–South circulation dynamics in the region. Additionally, the distinctions observed along the depth gradient are consistent with the decrease in irradiance, which causes a shift from photoautotrophic to heterotrophic builder species. These findings underscore the role of mesophotic bioconstructions along the Apulian coast as biodiversity hotspots and confirm their importance in understanding mesophotic ecosystem dynamics in the Mediterranean Sea.

Submerged and semi-submerged marine caves are considered a European habitat of Community Interest as they preserve one of the most important biodiversity heritages in the Mediterranean and serve as refugia for endemic and/or “relict” species. Among sessile benthic taxa, caves represent significant reservoirs of sponge species richness and are well representative of the entire poriferan Mediterranean fauna. In order to assess the current knowledge of sponge species in marine caves along the Apulian coast, this study gathered data from the available literature (national and international scientific publications and grey literature) with original data, surveying 26 marine caves in the area. A total of 145 Porifera species were reported in marine caves on the Apulian coast, including 117 in the Tremiti archipelago, 33 along the Adriatic coast of Bari and 73 along the Salento Peninsula. Original data includes new records for nine species in the Corvine cave, two in the Murene cave and one in the Zinzulusa cave. Our results suggest that marine cave communities along the Apulian coast are not uniformly surveyed, being the caves of the Tremiti Islands and those of the Salento Peninsula among the best studied, while large stretches of the regional coast, although particularly rich in marine caves, are poorly investigated for their sponge fauna.

SUMMARY: The intra-erythrocytic protozoanBabesia bovisis an economically important pathogen that causes an acute and often fatal infection in adult cattle. Babesiosis limitation depends on the early activation of macrophages, essential cells of the host innate immunity, which can generate an inflammatory response mediated by cytokines and nitric oxide (NO). Herein, we demonstrate in bovine macrophages that lipids fromB. bovisattenuated R1A strain (L_A) produced a stronger NO release, an early TNFαmRNA induction and 2-fold higher IL-12p35 mRNA levels compared to the lipids of virulent S2P strain (L_V). Neither L_Anor L_Vinduced anti-inflammatory IL-10. Regarding signalling pathways, we here report that L_Ainduced a significant phosphorylation of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) whereas L_Vonly induced a reduced activation of ERK1/2. Besides, NF-κB was activated by L_Aand L_V, but L_Aproduced an early degradation of the inhibitor IκB. Interestingly, L_Vand the majority of its lipid fractions, exerted a significant inhibition of concanavalin A-induced peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation with respect to L_Aand its corresponding lipid fractions. In addition, we determined that animals infected with R1A developed a higher increase in IgM anti-phosphatidylcholine than those inoculated with S2P. Collectively, S2P lipids generated a decreased inflammatory response contributing to the evasion of innate immunity. Moreover, since R1A lipids induced a pro-inflammatory profile, we propose these molecules as good candidates for immunoprophylactic strategies against babesiosis.