Nine New Pristionchus Nematoda Diplogastridae Species From China

"Abstract: The model organism Pristionchus pacificus and the genus Pristionchus, Kreis, 1932 have been intensively studied in the last decade with contemporary work focusing on the development, evolution, ecology, behavior, neurobiology, and genomics of this group of organisms. In particular, mechanistic studies on the development and evolution of mouth-form plasticity, predation and associated self-recognition processes enabled unique insight into life history strategies and the evolution of novelty. These studies include a comparative research agenda making use of the 39 available species of Pristionchus, all of which can be studied in living cultures. Sampling efforts revealed that Asia represents a biodiversity hotspot for Pristionchus worms. However, previous samplings have a bias towards northern and island areas, largely for logistic reasons. Here, we report on two extensive sampling trips to the Yunnan and Shaanxi provinces in Mainland China. We report the isolation of nine new Pristionchus species by morphology, morphometrics, mating experiments and genome-wide sequence analysis. Keywords: Pristionchus pacificus, Diplogastridae, scarab beetles, phenotypic plasticity, evolution of hermaphroditism"--Page 3.

Nematodes are small multicellular organisms that have been used as biological models since the 1960s. For example, Caenorhabditis elegans is a free-living nematode worm, about 1mm in length, that lives in temperate soil environments. It is made up of about 1000 cells, and has a short life cycle of only two weeks. It was the first multicellular organism to have its whole genome sequenced. The book summarizes the importance of nematodes as model organisms in the fields of genetics, developmental biology, neurobiology, pharmacology, nutrition, ecology and parasitology. Of interest to a broad audience across a wide spectrum of disciplines, this book is useful for biologists working on comparative studies to investigate biological processes across organisms; medical scientists and pharmacologists for exploration of drugs and medicine (including the use of genome editing to eliminate diseases); ecologists considering nematodes as indicators for environment changes; and parasitologists for host-parasite interactions. Many other researchers can use this book as a benchmark for the broad implications of nematology research on other aspects of science.

Vitamin B12, Volume 119 in the Vitamins and Hormones series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters written by an international board of authors. Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors Presents the latest release in the Vitamins and Hormones series Updated release includes the latest information on Vitamin B12

This book focuses on Pristionchus pacificus and the progress of developing this nematode as model to combine evolutionary biology with mechanistic approaches in comparative biology. Integrating developmental, ecology and population genetics can foster the understanding of biological diversity and novelty.

Covering a wide range of rapidly-developing fields of research into parasitic nematodes, this comprehensive volume discusses the genetics, biochemistry and immunology of nematode parasites of humans as well as domestic animals and plants. This fully-updated edition also covers new advances including horizontal gene transfer, immune expulsion mechanisms, genetics of susceptibility in humans, nematode protein structures, role of bacterial symbionts, intrinsic immune response, host immune system modulation, modulation of allergic and autoimmune diseases and the use of parasitic nematodes or their products as therapeutics.

Nematodes are the most wide spread multicellular animals in nature and analysis of nematodes in terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments as well as their role and function in ecosystems, can be used for environmental monitoring. Compared to other organisms, they offer the greatest potential as bioindicators and can be used to study gene expression in relation to environmental challenges, to monitor changing impacts on the environment and in laboratory ecotoxicity tests. This volume addresses classical and molecular approaches to nematode community analysis, the contemporary field of nematodes as biosensors, as well as genomic aspects of nematode bioindicators. In addition, the case studies stress the importance of these bioindicators and demonstrate the commercial potential of these technologies.

Soil Nematodes of Grasslands in Northern China presents research on China’s temperate grasslands, providing the findings and results of a large field survey along a transect across the northern temperate grassland. It examines nematode distribution patterns along the transect from trophic group and family, to genus level, also evaluating their relationship with climatic conditions, plant biomass and soil parameters. The book then presents detailed taxonomy information of nematodes to genus or species level, providing keen insights into nematode diversity along the grassland transect in north China. Final sections review the advances and perspectives for the research of soil ecology on soil nematodes in China, including recent major discoveries of soil microbial diversity and eco-function during this field survey. This work will help researchers predict the impact of global change drivers on below ground soil biota and better understand the functioning and services they provide in terrestrial ecosystems. Features previously unavailable information on nematode diversity and distribution along a large geographic region of China Describes the relationship of nematode assemblage composition with climatic conditions, plant and soil characteristics Covers nematode genera and species descriptions along the grassland transect

Pine forests face a global threat of pine wilt disease, which is being spread by vector beetles carrying pathogenic nematodes from dead trees to healthy ones. Among the host pines there are varying degrees of susceptibility, and nematode strains also contain a variety of virulences, both of which factors help to determine whether infected host trees will die or survive. As well, biotic and abiotic environmental factors influence the fate of infected trees. This book describes the history of the disease, pathogenic nematodes, vector beetles, the etiology and ecology of the disease, microorganisms involved, and control methods that utilize host resistance and biological control agents. Concrete, comprehensive, and the most up-to-date knowledge about this worldwide forest epidemic is presented for readers, enabling them to understand the nature and epidemic threat of pine wilt disease.