Eight populations of Caprella penantis, three of Caprella dilatata and two of Caprella andreae, collected from different sites all over the world, were selected for genetic study. Thirteen primers were tested, and the phenogram, based on the similarity coefficient of Nei & Li and the UPGMA method, separated clearly C. dilatata and C. andreae from the populations of C. penantis, supporting the validity of these three species, traditionally considered altogether under the old ‘acutifrons’ complex. Populations of C. penantis (including, at least, forms simulatrix, testudo and lusitanica) from Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Japan and Brazil were clustered together in the RAPD analysis, indicating that, probably, all the specimens of C. penantis could belong to the same species, in spite of morphological variations in the pleura, gills, robustness and presence/absence of proximal projection in adult male gnathopod 2 propodus. The only population which showed genetic differentiation within the C. penantis complex was the form gibbosa from Coquimbo, Chile. Future analysis based on different molecular approaches (mtDNA, 18S rRNA, ISSR) and additional material from other world areas, should be conducted to confirm these results.

Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum zymodeme MON-1 is responsible for the majority of visceral leishmaniasis cases around the Mediterranean basin, albeit that it causes also cutaneous forms. The MON classification is based on starch gel multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) typing. The aim of this work was to explore further the genetic diversity and phylogenetic status of this zymodeme by alternative typing techniques. Fourteen L. (L.) infantum/L. (L.) chagasi stocks identified as MON-1 by MLEE in reference laboratories, 3 L. infantum stocks attributed to other zymodemes (MON-24, MON-29, MON-33) and reference standard stocks belonging to other species (L. (L.) major, L. (L.) tropica and L. (L.) donovani) were characterized by 2 different markers: MLEE on cellulose acetate plates and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). We have obtained 10 different genotypes with RAPD and 6 different genotypes with MLEE on cellulose acetate plates for the 14 L. infantum/L. chagasi MON-1 stocks studied. MLEE and RAPD data gave quite congruent phylogenetic results: L. infantum zymodeme MON-1 was shown to be polyphyletic and genetically heterogeneous. This work confirms the necessity of using different markers to build up a robust phylogeny. Finally the epidemiological and clinical implications of these results are discussed.

A new group of darkly pigmented root-infecting fungi was isolated from cereal roots obtained from six different locations in northeastern Germany. Similar random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD) patterns and restriction profiles of amplified rDNA were used as a basis for classifying the isolates in a separate group. The isolates demonstrating mycelial and infection characteristics typical of Gaeumannomyces graminis could be differentiated from the varieties of G. graminis as well as from Gaeumannomyces cylindrosporus/Phialophora graminicola using RAPD Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rDNA Restriction-fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Phylogenetic analysis of the Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions suggests that the isolates form a distinct group (named group ‘E’) situated within the Gaeumannomyces–Phialophora complex between the branch of the G. graminis varieties and Gaeumannomyces incrustans/Magnaporthe poae. Isolates of group E produced lobed hyphopodia and were shown in biotests to be non-pathogenic to wheat, oats, Italian Ryegrass and Chewings Fescue, suggesting it is a benign parasite which colonizes cereals or grasses without destroying vascular tissue. Furthermore, curved phialospores could be found. Summarizing the results presented, this new group could be classified as a new species of Phialophora. Although isolates of group E were found at only six of the 32 investigated locations, they composed up to 50% of total isolates of the Gaeumannomyces–Phialophora complex at these sites. Because of the non-pathogenic behaviour, the new group may be of value as biological control agents for pathogenic fungi.