Abstract We still have little knowledge concerning the phylogeography of amphibians and reptiles from Balkan Peninsula compared with other two Mediterranean peninsulas. This raises concerns for endemic taxa these peninsulas, because it might interfere further conservation efforts. Here we focus on Greek stream frog (Rana graeca) reconstruct its biogeography evolutionary history. Using four gene...

Grapevine powdery mildew (GPM), caused by the fungus Erysiphe necator, is a constant threat to worldwide production of grape berries, requiring repeated use fungicides for management. The frequent fungicide applications have resulted in resistance commonly used quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) and associated with single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (cytb). In t...

During aging, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can accumulate mutations leading to increasing levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Increased ROS were described to activate formerly quiescent hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). Mutations in mtDNA were shown to enhance the risk for myelodysplastic syndrome and leukemia. However, the complex relationship between mtDNA variations, ROS and aging of the hem...

Phakopsora pachyrhizi is a devastating pathogen on soybean, endangering soybean production worldwide. Use of Host Induced Gene Silencing (HIGS) and the study of effector proteins could provide novel strategies for pathogen control. For both approaches quantification of transcript abundance by RT-qPCR is essential. Suitable stable reference genes for normalization are indispensable to obtain acc...

Contemporary studies in forensic entomology exhaustively evaluate gene sequences because these constitute the fastest and most accurate method of species identification. For this purpose single gene segments, cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) in particular, are commonly used. However, the limitation of such sequences in identification, especially of closely related species and populations, dem...

Institutions and agencies which are to enforce veterinary and animal protection and conservation regulations require means enabling identification of species origin of meat, trophies and other biological material. In this study a partial DNA sequence of cytochrome b gene (cytb) was used to identify three different anonymous samples: (1) the hair from the bird’s nest, (2) the blood stain found i...

We address the taxonomic position of the southern European individuals of pike, performing a series of tests and comparisons from morphology, DNA taxonomy and population genetics parameters, in order to support the hypothesis that two species of pike, and not only one, exist in Europe. A strong relationship emerged between a northern genotype supported by COI, Cytb, AFLP and specific fragments,...

In the track of new biopesticides, four genes namely cytA, cytB, cytC and cytD encoding proteins homologous to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cyt toxins have been identified in the plant pathogenic bacteria Dickeya dadantii genome. Here we show that three Cyt-like δ-endotoxins from D. dadantii (CytA, CytB and CytC) are toxic to the pathogen of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum in terms of both mor...

Fishes are, by far, the most diverse group of vertebrates. Their classification relies heavily on morphology. In practice, the correct morphological identification of species often depends on personal experience because many species vary in their body shape, color and other external characters. Thus, the identification of a species may be prone to errors. Due to the rapid development of molecul...