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Aeschynanthus smaragdinus F.Wen & J.Q.Qin, a new species of Gesneriaceae from the monsoon rain forest in Mangbang township, Tengchong City, Yunnan Province, China, is described and illustrated here. It morphologically resembles A. chiritoides C.B.Clarke in size, shape and hairs on the leaf blades. But it can easily be distinguished from the latter by the green corolla limb with brownish-red to maroon lower lobes. At the same time, the hairs of the pedicel and calyx lobes, the length of the staminode and the size of the seed grain can also help distinguish both. It is provisionally assessed as Data Deficient (DD), according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, because field surveys for this new taxon have not been completed.

Trichomonascaceae is the largest family of ascomycetous yeast in the order Saccharomycetales. In spite of the extensive body of research on Trichomonascaceae in China, there remain new species to be discovered. Here, we describe four new species isolated from several rotting wood samples from Henan Province, Central China. Phylogenetic analysis of a combined ITS and nrLSU dataset with morphological studies revealed four new species in the Trichomonascaceae: Diddensiella luoyangensis, Sugiyamaella cylindrica, Su. robnettiae, and Zygoascus detingensis. Clustering in the Diddensiella clade, D. luoyangensis’ closest neighbour was D. transvaalensis. Meanwhile, Su. cylindrica clustered in the Sugiyamaella clade closest to Su. marilandica and Su. qingdaonensis. Also clustering in the Sugiyamaella clade, Su. robnettiae was most closely related to Su. chuxiongensis. Finally, Z. detingensis occupied a distinct and separated basal branch from the other species of the genus Zygoascus. These results indicate a high species diversity of Trichomonascaceae.

Oreocharis yangjifengensis F.Wen & B.Chen, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Yangjifeng National Nature Reserve, Yingtan city, Jiangxi province, East China, is described and illustrated. It can be easily distinguished from other Oreocharis species by having a zygomorphic and urceolate corolla, and peduncle, bracts, pedicel and calyx densely pale brown woolly to pubescent.

Species of the genus Sugiyamaella (Trichomonascaceae, Saccharomycetales), found in rotting wood in China, were investigated using morphology and the molecular phylogeny of a combined ITS and nrLSU dataset. Nine taxa were collected in China: two were new species (viz. Sugiyamaella chuxiongsp. nov. and S. yunanensissp. nov.) and seven were known species, S. americana, S. ayubii, S. novakii, S. paludigena, S. valenteae, S. valdiviana and S. xiaguanensis. The two new species are illustrated and their morphology and phylogenetic relationships with other Sugiyamaella species are discussed. Our results indicate a potentially great diversity of Sugiyamaella spp. inhabiting rotting wood in China just waiting to be discovered.

In a study on the fungal diversity in Northeast China, twelve yeast isolates were obtained from soils collected in three provinces, Helongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning. Morphological assessment and phylogenetic analyses of the nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the D1/D2 domains of the nuc 28S rDNA (nuc 28S) gene of the 12 cultures placed them in the genus Mrakia, namely Mrakia aquatica, Mrakia arctica, Mrakia frigida, Mrakia gelida and Mrakia robertii. A total of three isolates represented a hitherto undescribed species, which is described here as M. panshiensissp. nov. (MB 834813). The species M. panshiensissp. nov. shares several morphological characters with M. niccombsii, M. aquatica, M. fibulata and M. hoshinonis. These species can be distinguished based on physiological traits and pairwise rDNA sequence similarities. The study also describes for the first time the formation of teliospores by previously described M. arctica.

Three species of Scheffersomyces were identified during a diversity study of yeasts. All three are associated with insects and rotting wood in China. Phylogenetic analyses of a genomic dataset combining ITS and nrLSU revealed that these new collections are distinct from known species, thus three new species are introduced i.e. S. jinghongensis, S. paraergatensis, and S. anoplophorae. In our phylogenetic analyses, Scheffersomyces jinghongensis possesses a strong independent lineage and is closely related to S. titanus. S. paraergatensis is closely related to S. ergatensis, while S. anoplophorae is related to S. stambukii. Several differences in physiological traits and molecular data indicate that S. jinghongensis, S. paraergatensis, and S. anoplophorae are three newly identified species.

Yamadazyma is one of the largest genera in the family Debaryomycetaceae (Saccharomycetales, Saccharomycetes) with species mainly found in rotting wood, insects and their resulting frass, but also recovered from flowers, leaves, fruits, tree bark, mushrooms, sea water, minerals, and the atmosphere. In the present study, several strains obtained from rotting wood in Henan and Yunnan Provinces of China were isolated. Based on morphology and a molecular phylogeny of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rDNA, these strains were identified as three new species: Yamadazyma luoyangensis, Y. ovata and Y. paraaseri; and three previously described species, Y. insectorum, Y. akitaensis, and Y. olivae. The three new species are illustrated and their morphology and phylogenetic relationships with other Yamadazyma species are discussed. Our results indicate a high undiscovered diversity of Yamadazyma spp. inhabiting rotting wood in China.

Yamadazyma is one of the largest genera in the family Debaryomycetaceae (Saccharomycetales, Saccharomycetes) with species mainly found in rotting wood, insects and their resulting frass, but also recovered from flowers, leaves, fruits, tree bark, mushrooms, sea water, minerals, and the atmosphere. In the present study, several strains obtained from rotting wood in Henan and Yunnan Provinces of China were isolated. Based on morphology and a molecular phylogeny of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rDNA, these strains were identified as three new species: Yamadazymaluoyangensis, Y.ovata and Y.paraaseri; and three previously described species, Y.insectorum, Y.akitaensis, and Y.olivae. The three new species are illustrated and their morphology and phylogenetic relationships with other Yamadazyma species are discussed. Our results indicate a high undiscovered diversity of Yamadazyma spp. inhabiting rotting wood in China.

Amylosporus sulcatus sp. nov. is described from Nonggang Nature Reserve, southern China, on the basis of morphological and molecular data. The morphological description and illustrations for the new species are provided. The species is characterized by pileate and stipitate basidiocarps. The pileus surface is obviously concentrically and radiately sulcate and tomentum, and the pore surface is snow white. Phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer and nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA confirmed it to be a new species.

Species of the genus Sugiyamaella (Trichomonascaceae, Saccharomycetales), found in rotting wood in China, were investigated using morphology and the molecular phylogeny of a combined ITS and nrLSU dataset. Nine taxa were collected in China: two were new species (viz. Sugiyamaella chuxiongsp. nov. and S. yunanensissp. nov.) and seven were known species, S. americana, S. ayubii, S. novakii, S. paludigena, S. valenteae, S. valdiviana and S. xiaguanensis. The two new species are illustrated and their morphology and phylogenetic relationships with other Sugiyamaella species are discussed. Our results indicate a potentially great diversity of Sugiyamaella spp. inhabiting rotting wood in China just waiting to be discovered.

Spathaspora is an important genus of d-xylose-fermenting yeasts that are poorly studied in China. During recent yeast collections in Yunnan Province in China, 13 isolates of Spathaspora were obtained from rotting wood and all represent undescribed taxa. Based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses (ITS and nuc 28S), five new species are proposed: Spathaspora elongata, Sp. mengyangensis, Sp. jiuxiensis, Sp. parajiuxiensis and Sp. rosae. Our results indicate a high species diversity of Spathaspora waiting to be discovered in rotting wood from tropical and subtropical southwest China. In addition, the two Candida species, C. jeffriesii and C. materiae, which are members of the Spathaspora clade based on phylogeny, are transferred to Spathaspora as new combinations.

A new species of the genus Oxyporus Fabricius, 1775 is described based on specimens collected in Yunnan Province, China, namely Oxyporus (Oxyporus) mojiangius Li, sp. nov. from Mojiang County. The number of Oxyporus species worldwide is thus increased to 132. Color images of the habitus and aedeagus of the new species are included. A key to the Oxyporus species of Yunnan Province is provided.

Two new species of the genus Oxyporus Fabricius, 1775 are described based on specimens collected in Yunnan Province, China, namely Oxyporus (Oxyporus) fentianae sp. nov. from Mojiang County and Oxyporus (Oxyporus) ningerius sp. nov. from Ninger County. The number of Oxyporus species worldwide is thus increased to 130. Color images of the habitus and aedeagi of the two new species are included. A key to the Oxyporus species of Yunnan Province is provided.

Ceracris jianfenglingensis sp. nov. (Figs. 1 –12) Holotype: ♂. Paratypes 1♂, 4 ♀ China, Hainan, Jianfengling Mountain, 18°24′– 18°58′ N, 108°39′– 109°24′ E, alt. 1412m, Dec.02, 2017, legs. Liu Wen-Sen and Yin Qi. Male (Figs. 6 –12) Body medium in size. Head shorter than pronotum. Vertex apex broadly rounded. Frons oblique in profile. Frontal ridge downward broadened gradually to labrum. Eye ellipse, vertical diameter 1.4 times horizontal diameter and 1.8 times subocular furrow. Antennae filiform, length of segment 3.4 times width in the middle. Median keel of pronotum cut by hind transverse sulcus only, three transverse sulci are distinct, hind transverse sulcus placed after middle part, prozona 1.2 times metazona in length; lateral carinae almost parallel in prozona and indistinct in metazona. Interspace of mesosternum narrow, length 1.2 times minimum width. Both metasternal lobes separated. Tegmina developed, extending over the end of abdomen, apical part rounded, median vein area without intercalary vein, maximum width of cubital area equal maximum width of median area, cubital area without intercalary vein. Hind femur robust, dorsal carina smooth, length 4.5 times its maximun width, knee lobe rounded at apex. Hind tibia with 10 spines on outer and 11 spines on inner sides, outer apical spine absent. Arolium of hind tarsus larger, reaching the apex of claw. Tympanum developed. Cercus conical, reaching the end of epiproct. Subgenital plate short, conical, apex rounded. Epiphallus showing as Fig.12. Female (Figs. 1–5) Body of medium size. Head large, shorter than pronotum. Frons extremely oblique in lateral view. Eyes oval, longitudinal diameter 1.6 times its horizontal diameter and subocular furrow. Prozona 1.2 times metazoan in length. Length of interspace between mesosternal lobes 1.2 times its minimum width; both metasternal lobes separated. Tegmina developed, reaching apex of abdomen, apex rounded, maximum width of medial area equal to cubital area; medial area without intercalary veins. Wings equal tegmina in length. Hind femur symmetrical, length 4.6 times its width, upper and lower median carinae smooth, apex of lower lateral genicular lobes rounded. Outer side of hind tibia with 10 spines, inner side with 11 spines; outer apical spine absent. Ovipositor stubby, length of upper valve 2.1 times its width. Cerci long conical, apex pointed. Length of subgenital plate 1.8 times its width, posterior margin prominent in the middle. Body greenish brown. Postocular band dark, wider, backward to hind margin of pronotum. Tegmina dark brown. Hind femur greenish brown, with a black ring near knee, knee black. Hind tibia dark brown, with a pale ring near base. Hind tarsus yellowish brown. Measurement (mm): Length of body: ♂ 23.0–23.5, ♀ 31.9–34.5. Length of tegmen: ♂ 20.0–20.4, ♀ 24.7–26.5. Length of hind femur: ♂ 15.5–16.5, ♀ 19.0–20.5. The new species is similar to C. n. nigrocornis Walker, 1870. The major differences are listed in Table 1. Etymology: The specific epithet is named for the type locality Jianfengling Mountain.

Background The widespread use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has led to considerable concerns about the prevalence of transmitted drug resistance (TDR). Sexual contact, particularly men who have sex with men (MSM) was the most prevalent form of HIV transmission in Shijiazhuang. Hence, we conducted an epidemiological surveillance study on TDR among newly diagnosed individuals who infected-HIV through sexual contact in from 2014–2015. Methods Genotypic resistance mutations were defined using the WHO-2009 surveillance list. Potential impact on antiretroviral drug was predicted according to the Stanford HIV db program version 7.0. The role of transmission clusters in drug resistant strains was evaluated by phylogenetic and network analyses. Results In this study, 589 individuals were recruited and 542 samples were amplified and sequenced successfully. The over prevalence of TDR was 6.1%: 1.8% to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), 2.0% to non- NRTIs (NNRTIs) and 2.4% to protease inhibitors (PIs), respectively. We did not find significant differences in the TDR prevalence by demographic and clinical characteristics (p > 0.05). Using network and phylogenetic analysis, almost 60.0% sequences were clustered together. Of these clusters, 2 included at least two individuals carrying the same resistance mutation, accounting for 21.2% (7/33) individuals with TDR. No significant difference was observed in the clustering rate between the individuals with and without TDR. Conclusions We obtained a moderate level TDR rate in studied region. These findings enhance our understanding of HIV-1 drug resistance prevalence in Shijiazhuang, and may be helpful for the comprehensive prevention and control of HIV-1.

Auxin response factor (ARF) is a member of the plant-specific B3 DNA binding superfamily. Here, we report the results of a comprehensive analysis of ARF genes in allotetraploid Brassica napus (2n = 38, AACC). Sixty-seven ARF genes were identified in B. napus (BnARFs) and divided into four subfamilies (I-IV). Sixty-one BnARFs were distributed on all chromosomes except C02; the remaining were on Ann and Cnn. The full length of the BnARF proteins was highly conserved especially within each subfamily with all members sharing the N-terminal DNA binding domain (DBD) and the middle region (MR), and most contained the C-terminal dimerization domain (PBI). Twenty-one members had a glutamine-rich MR that may be an activator and the remaining were repressors. Accordingly, the intron patterns are highly conserved in each subfamily or clade, especially in DBD and PBI domains. Several members in subfamily III are potential targets for miR167. Many putative cis-elements involved in phytohormones, light signaling responses, and biotic and abiotic stress were identified in BnARF promoters, implying their possible roles. Most ARF proteins are likely to interact with auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA) -related proteins, and members from different subfamilies generally shared many common interaction proteins. Whole genome-wide duplication (WGD) by hybridization between Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea and segmental duplication led to gene expansion. Gene loss following WGD is biased with the An-subgenome retaining more ancestral genes than the Cn-subgenome. BnARFs have wide expression profiles across vegetative and reproductive organs during different developmental stages. No obvious expression bias was observed between An- and Cn-subgenomes. Most synteny-pair genes had similar expression patterns, indicating their functional redundancy. BnARFs were sensitive to exogenous IAA and 6-BA treatments especially subfamily III. The present study provides insights into the distribution, phylogeny, and evolution of ARF gene family.

MADS-box transcription factors are important for plant growth and development, and hundreds of MADS-box genes have been functionally characterized in plants. However, less is known about the functions of these genes in the economically important allopolyploid oil crop, Brassica napus. We identified 307 potential MADS-box genes (BnMADSs) in the B. napus genome and categorized them into type I (Mα, Mβ, and Mγ) and type II (MADS DNA-binding domain, intervening domain, keratin-like domain, and C-terminal domain [MIKC]c and MIKC*) based on phylogeny, protein motif structure, and exon-intron organization. We identified one conserved intron pattern in the MADS-box domain and seven conserved intron patterns in the K-box domain of the MIKCc genes that were previously ignored and may be associated with function. Chromosome distribution and synteny analysis revealed that hybridization between Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea, segmental duplication, and homologous exchange (HE) in B. napus were the main BnMADSs expansion mechanisms. Promoter cis-element analyses indicated that BnMADSs may respond to various stressors (drought, heat, hormones) and light. Expression analyses showed that homologous genes in a given subfamily or sister pair are highly conserved, indicating widespread functional conservation and redundancy. Analyses of BnMADSs provide a basis for understanding their functional roles in plant development.

The staphylinid tribe Lomechusini is known for the diverse associations with ants or termites. A new species of rove beetle belonging to Zyras (Diaulaconia) is found to be associated with the fungus-growing termite, Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki, 1909), and is showing meticulous predatory behavior. In the present study, this species is described as Zyras (Diaulaconia) artemis Liang, Maruyama & Li, sp. n. Its assignment to the subgenus Diaulaconia is based on the comparison of female spermatheca, male aedeagus, and male secondary characters. The habitus photographs and the line drawings of diagnostic characters and their variations are provided. The current knowledge about the taxonomy, phylogeny, and ecology of Diaulaconia is discussed. The checklist of Diaulaconia species of Taiwan is updated.