Online citizen sciences reveal natural enemies and new occurrence data of Meteorusstellatus Fujie, Shimizu & Maeto, 2021 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae).

Background: Citizen science is a research approach that involves collaboration between professional scientists and non-professional volunteers. The utilisation of recent online citizen-science platforms (e.g. social networking services) has greatly revolutionised the accessibility of biodiversity data by providing opportunities for connecting professional and citizen scientists worldwide. Meteorusstellatus Fujie, Shimizu & Maeto, 2021 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae) has been recorded from the Oriental Islands of Japan and known to be a gregarious endoparasitoid of two macro-sized sphingid moths of Macroglossum, Ma.passalus (Drury) and Ma.pyrrhosticta Butler. It constructs characteristic star-shaped communal cocoons, suspended by a long cable. Although M.stellatus has been reported only from the Oriental Islands of Japan, the authors recognise its occurrence and ecological data from Taiwan and the Palaearctic Island of Japan through posts on online citizen-science groups about Taiwanese Insects on Facebook and an article on a Japanese citizen-scientist's website. New information: Through collaboration between professional and citizen scientists via social media (Facebook groups) and websites, the following new biodiversity and ecological data associated with M.stellatus are provided: Meteorusstellatus is recorded for the first time from Taiwan and the Palaearctic Region (Yakushima Is., Japan).Cechetraminor (Butler, 1875), Hippotioncelerio (Linnaeus, 1758) and Macroglossumsitiene (Walker, 1856) (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) are recorded for the first time as hosts of M.stellatus and two of which (C.minor and H.celerio) represent the first genus-level host records for M.stellatus.Mesochorus sp. (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae), indeterminate species of Pteromalidae and Trichogrammatidae (Hymenoptera), are recognised as hyperparasitoid wasps of M.stellatus.Parapolybiavaria (Fabricius, 1787) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) is reported as a predator of pendulous communal cocoons of M.stellatus. The nature of suspended large-sized communal cocoons of M.stellatus and the importance and limitations of digital occurrence data and online citizen science are briefly discussed.

Re-evaluation of the taxonomic confusion of the metallic-blue Pimpla Fabricius, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Pimplinae) species in the Oriental region.

The metallic-blue body coloration is a distinct characteristic found in seven species of the cosmopolitan genus Pimpla Fabricius, 1804. In this study, we focus on two externally similar species, namely P. cyanator Morley, 1914 in India and P. alishanensis (Kusigemati, 1984) in Taiwan, along with the Indian P. indra Cameron, 1899, which are the only three species in the Oriental region exhibiting this trait. By examining the type series of these two taxa and acquiring additional materials from Taiwan, we discovered female morphological variations that resemble the form of the holotype of P. cyanator. Consequently, we propose that P. alishanensis should be synonymized with P. cyanator (syn. nov.). Furthermore, we provide a redescription of P. cyanator based on morphological characters and molecular COI sequences. We also discuss its revised distribution, the diagnostic features distinguishing P. cyanator from other metallic-blue Pimpla species worldwide, the factors influencing the color change in specimens, and some potential misidentifications that have occurred in the past.

Notes on the genus Netelia, subgenus Parabates (Ichneumonidae, Tryphoninae), with description of a new species from Oriental Region.

The characters that define the subgenus Parabates of the genus Netelia are investigated. The shape of the basal apodeme of the aedeagus is considered to be a synapomorphy of this subgenus, suggesting the monophyly of Parabates. A new species, Netelia (Parabates) fusciapicalis n. sp. belonging to the ishiharai group is described from Taiwan, Vietnam and Laos. This is the sixth extant species of the subgenus, the first record of the genus Netelia from Vietnam and Laos, and the first record of the subgenus Parabates from Taiwan.

Association of SELE genotypes/haplotypes with sE-selectin levels in Taiwanese individuals: interactive effect of MMP9 level.

BACKGROUND: E-selectin is implicated in various inflammatory processes and related disorders. We aimed to investigate the role of SELE-gene genotypes/haplotypes on plasma levels of MMP9 and sE-selectin in Taiwanese individuals. METHODS: Five hundred twenty individuals were enrolled. Seven tagging SELE single nucleotide polymorphisms were analyzed. RESULTS: SELE genotypes were found associated with MMP9 and sE-selectin levels. Multivariate analysis identified that the most significant genetic polymorphism (rs5368 genotype) was independently associated with MMP9 levels (P < 0.001). One haplotype (GGAGAGT) was marginally associated with MMP9 levels (P = 0.0490). One SELE SNP, (rs3917406, P = 0.031) was associated with sE-selectin levels after adjusting for MMP9 and sICAM1 levels. Subgroup and interaction analysis revealed association of SELE SNP rs10800469 with sE-selectin levels only in the highest quartile of MMP9 level (P = 0.002, interaction P = 0.023). Haplotype analysis showed one haplotype (AAAAAGC) borderline associated with sE-selectin level (P = 0.0511). CONCLUSION: SELE genotypes/haplotypes are independently associated with MMP9 and E-selectin levels in Taiwanese individuals. The associations of SELE genotypes/haplotypes with sE-selectin levels are affected by MMP9 levels.

Screening reveals conserved and nonconserved transcriptional regulatory elements including an E3/E4 allele-dependent APOE coding region enhancer.

We performed an unbiased experimental search for enhancers and silencers in a 153-kb region containing the human apolipoprotein (APO) E/C1/C4/C2 gene cluster using shotgun cloning into a luciferase vector. A continuum of transcriptional effect sizes was observed, possibly explaining the limited success of bioinformatics in identifying regulatory regions. We identified nine statistically significant enhancers and five silencers functional in either liver or astrocyte cells, including two previously known enhancers. Only two of the fourteen elements contained conserved noncoding sequences. Within the coding sequence of the APOE gene we identified an enhancer for the E4 allele associated with Alzheimer's disease, but not E3. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) causing the E4/E3 amino acid substitution was responsible for these variations, potentially explaining the higher expression levels of E4. Our results suggest a wider variety of mammalian transcriptional regulatory sequences than is currently recognized and that these may include coding region SNPs.