SHIRLEY,T.C.: Priapulida Priapulida are a monophyletic group of marine, benthic worms with a retractile introvert for locomotion and feeding and a chitinous cuticle which is shed periodically. A mixture of bilateral and radial symmetry is present. The integument may bear many unique structures, including scalids, flosculi, setae, hooks, trunk scalids, tubercles and tumuli. A spacious […]

Near, T.J.: Phylogeny of the Acanthocephala and insights to the evolution of parasitism The Acanthocephala are a lineage of obligate helminth parasites of arthropods and vertebrates. Previous phylogenetic investigations utilizing ribosomal and protein coding genes indicate that the Acanthocephala is nested within the Rotifera. This is the only majorparasitic lineage with an indentified free-living sister-taxon. […]

GRENIER, J.K.: Minor Phyla Fill the Gaps: Priapulida and Onychophora The advent of comparative molecular databases has generated new hypotheses about animal phylogeny that are reshaping our understanding of animal evolution. For example, the bilaterian phyla are now often grouped into three major clades, the deuterostomes, the lophotrochozoans, and the ecdysozoans. The Ecdysozoa include several […]

HIGGINS, R.P.; NEUHAUS, B.*: Kinorhyncha The Kinorhyncha are protostome, bilaterally symmetrical, exclusively free-living marine animals, less than 1 mm long, and ecologically part of the meiofauna, either endo- or mesobenthic, and euryhadyl. They occur throughout the world, generally in sedimients but sometimes associated with plants or other animals. Kinorhynchs are segmented as evidenced by their […]

HALANYCH, K.M.*; McHUGH, D.; Dahlgren, T.G.: Evidence that some lesser-known “phyla” are annelids In traditional schemes, the Annelida has been classified as the Polychaeta, Oligochaeta, and Hirudinea (the last two comprising the Clitellata). However, recent analyses indicate that annelids are much more diverse than traditionally believed, and that polychaetes are a paraphyletic group. Specifically, some […]

NELSON, D.R.: Current status of the Tardigrada The Tardigrada are lobopodous micrometazoans that occupy a diversity of niches in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments throughout the world. Some have a cosmopolitan distribution, while others are endemic. About 900 species have been described thus far, but many more species are expected as additional habitats are investigated. […]

KRISTENSEN, R.M.: An Introduction to Loricifera, Cycliophora, and Gnathometazoa Adult loriciferans are bilaterally symmetrical marine metazoans between 108-485 microns. The body is divided into five regions: mouth cone, head (introvert), neck, thorax and abdomen. The first description of a loriciferan (Nanaloricus mysticus) was in 1983 from specimens collected from shell gravel off the coast of […]

COOKE, N.E.*; LIEBHABER, S.A.; WHITE, P.: Vitamin D binding Protein in Homone Transport and Host Defense Vitamin D binding protein (DBP) is serum protein belonging to the albumin, &alpha-fetoprotein, &alpha-albumin/afamin family. Multiple functions have been attributed to DBP: 1. Binding vitamin D metabolites and facilitating their serum transport, 2. Binding G-actin released to serum after […]

SCHREIBER, G: The Evolutionary and Integrative Roles of Transthyretin in Thyroid Hormone Homeostasis In larger mammals, thyroid hormone-binding plasma proteins are albumin, transthyretin (TTR) and thyroxine-binding globulin. Differing characteristically in affinities and release rates for thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), they form a “buffering” system counteracting thyroid hormone permeation from aqueous to lipid phases. Evolution […]

RIFKIN, db: TGF-� activation; Normal and Pathological Consequence The cytokine TGF-� is normally found in a latent from in the extra cellular milieu. Latent TGF-� consists of the mature cytokine dimer associated by non covalent interactions with its propeptides as well as a second gene product, the latent TGF-� binding protein (LTBP). In this state […]