Eukaryotic genome sequencing projects often yield bacterial DNA sequences, data typically considered as microbial contamination. However, these sequences may also indicate either symbiont genes or lateral gene transfer (LGT) to host genomes. These bacterial sequences can provide clues about eukaryote-microbe interactions. Here, we used the genome of the primitive animal Trichoplax adhaerens (Me...

Simple telomeres were identified in the genome assembly of the basal placozoan animal Trichoplax adhaerens. They have 1-2 kb of TTAGGG telomeric repeats, which are preceded by a subtelomeric region of 1.5-13 kb. Unlike subtelomeric regions in most animals examined, these subtelomeric regions are unique to each telomere.

A recent report of high levels of genetic variation between strains of Trichoplax adhaerens challenges the traditional view that the phylum Placozoa comprises only one species. At the morphological level, placozoans are amongst the simplest extant animals, but molecular evidence suggests that they may have more complex origins.

Exophilin A, a new antibacterial compound, was discovered in the culture of the marine microorganism Exophiala pisciphila NI10102, which was isolated from a marine sponge Mycale adhaerens. The absolute chemical structure of exophilin A was elucidated as a trimer of (3R,5R)-3,5-dihydroxydecanoic acid by spectroscopic methods and analyses of a degradative product. Exophilin A showed antimicrobial...

The genome sequence of Trichoplax adhaerens, the founding member of the enigmatic animal phylum Placozoa, has revealed that a surprising level of genetic complexity underlies its extremely simple body plan, indicating either that placozoans are secondarily simple or that there is an undiscovered morphologically complex life stage.

One new species named Goeldichironomus adhaerens sp. n. is described from urban area in Manaus, Brazilian Amazon, based on male adult, pupa and larva. New records of G. neopictus Trivinho-Strixino & Strixino, G. maculatus Trivinho-Strixino & Strixino, G. pictus Reiss and G. fluctuans Reiss are also provided.

In the course of our screening for antithrombotic compounds using platelet rich plasma from bovine slaughter blood, 2-methoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone (1) has been isolated from mycelial cultures of Lentinus adhaerens. The compound inhibits the U46619-induced aggregation of human blood platelets with an IC50 of 2.5 micrograms/ml (16.45 microM) and is a new thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist. T...

The distribution and fate of two junctional complexes, zonula adhaerens and desmosomes, after dissociation of cell-cell contacts is described in MDBK cells. Junctions were split between adjacent cells by treatment with EGTA and proteins associated with the plaques of zonulae adhaerentes and desmosomes were localized by immunological methods. Splitting of these junctions is accompanied by the di...

Interest in novel ligninolytic bacteria has remained topical due to, in part, the maneuverability of the bacterial genome. Conversely, the fungal genome lacks the dexterity for similar maneuverability thus, posing challenges in the fungal enzyme yield optimization process. Some impact of this situation includes the inability to commercialize the bio-catalytic process of lignin degradation by fu...

The inhibitory effect of Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyta), Dilophus spiralis (Phaeophyta) and Jania rubens (Rhodophyta) marine algae species has been evaluated against 2 Grampositive bacterial (Streptococcus pyogenes and Micrococcus luteus); 2 Gram-negative bacterial (Shigella flexneri and Vibrio cholerae) and 2 fungal (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) isolates using aqueous and six organic ex...