cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
TR3-based Peptides for Apoptosis in Breast Cancer
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Although the anti-estrogen tamoxifen shows activities in preventing development of breast cancer, there are no effective therapies for malignant estrogen-independent breast cancer. Recent scientific progress has suggested that elimination of cancer cells through induction of cancer cell death (apoptosis) is a plausible approach for developing new cancer therapies. Drugs that target the differences between tumor and normal cells may preferentially act on cancer cells, but not normal cells. This should result in fewer side effects and toxicity, which are often associated with currently available therapies. A cellular protein called Bcl-2 is a potent inhibitor of cancer cell death. High levels of Bcl-2 are observed in 70% of breast cancer and are associated with resistance of breast cancer cells to a wide spectrum of chemotherapeutic agents and radiation therapy. Bcl-2 is, therefore, an attractive target for developing new therapeutic approaches. Our laboratory recently discovered a protein, called TR3, that can potently destroy cancer cells. Our results show that TR3 may do so by binding to Bcl-2 and changing its activity, so that Bcl-2 behaves differently by acting to destroy cancer cells.

 To expand our previous work, we are using BCRP funding to focus on breast cancer to investigate the potential of TR3 to treat this type of cancer. We plan to conduct research to understand how TR3 binds Bcl-2 and how this binding alters Bcl-2 activity. Next, we will use this information to design, synthesize and evaluate small peptides that can be used as surrogates of TR3. Our specific aims are, first, to use a technology, called "antisense", to reduce levels of Bcl-2 in breast cancer cells and ask whether this will affect the cell killing activity of TR3. This should allow us to determine that Bcl-2 can destroy breast cancer cells once it binds TR3. Secondly, we will then use mutagenesis to identify the protein domains of both TR3 and Bcl-2 are required for their binding. We hope to identify a minimal region in the TR3 protein, which is sufficient to bind Bcl-2 and change its activity. Finally, we will study how TR3 binding to Bcl-2 converts it from an inhibitor to an inducer of cancer cell death. This, we believe, is based on the conformation of Bcl-2 protein. This information will enable us to design and synthesize TR3-based "conformationally restricted" peptides, and evaluate them in breast cancer cells and animal models of breast cancer.

 Our observation that Bcl-2 can be converted to have cancer cell killing activity is exciting. This challenges our current notion that Bcl-2 acts as an inhibitor of cell death. Importantly, we are able to propose a novel approach for inducing Bcl-2 killing activity. Our proposed studies utilize state-of-the-art technologies, are exploratory in nature, and have significant translational value as well.
Callotillus intricatus Wolcott and Dybas 1947
Creators: name: Burke, Alan F.
name: Leavengood, John M.
name: Zolnerowich, Gregory
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Cleridae
Callotillus
Callotillus intricatus

description: Callotillus intricatus Wolcott and Dybas, 1947
Distribution: CAM: CR, PAN *.
References: Wolcott and Dybas 1947; Corporaal 1950; Vaurie 1952a, Papp 1960; Burke and Zolnerowich 2014c.
description: Published as part of Burke, Alan F., Leavengood, John M. & Zolnerowich, Gregory, 2015, A checklist of the New World species of Tillinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae), with an illustrated key to genera and new country records, pp. 1-39 in Zootaxa 4059 (1) on page 8, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4059.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/234970
Subergorgia rubra Thomson 1905
Creators: name: Ramvilas, Ghosh
name: Alderslade, Philip
name: Ranjeet, Kutty
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Cnidaria
Anthozoa
Alcyonacea
Subergorgiidae
Subergorgia
Subergorgia rubra

description: Subergorgia rubra Thomson, 1905
Subergorgia rubra Thomson, 1905: 172, fig. 4 (Sri Lankan seas); Stiasny 1937: 107, pl. 8, figs. 49–52, text fig. II; Grasshoff 1999: 15, fig. 17a (New Caledonia); Grasshoff 2000: 7, figs. 6–7 (Red Sea); Fernando, 2011: 18–19, pl. 2, fig. 2–2e (Cuddalore).
Opinion: There is evidence that this species occurs in the region.
Justification:
These Indian records seem to be either invalid or unconfirmable: Kumar et al. 2014a: 106, pl. 50, fig. A–D (South Andaman); Fernando et al. 2017: 17, pl. 3, fig. A–D (Cuddalore).
Literature analysis:
This species was erected by Thomson (1905) for a specimen from Sri Lankan waters, but the description, with no sclerite figures, is totally inadequate to characterise this species. Grasshoff (1999) stated that he had examined a fragment of the holotype to confirm the species occurs in the Maldives and said that the description by Stiasny (1937) is correct.
In the account of the species in Fernando (2011) and Fernando et al. (2017) the text is identical, but the illustrations are different even though the material examined is the same. But, in the account of the species in Fernando et al. (2017) and Kumar et al. (2014a) the text is different, but the illustrations are identical even though the material examined is different.
The specimen figured by Fernando (2017) and Kumar et al. (2014a) with its secund branching and secondary dichotomy is quite different from the colony in their underwater photograph and also very different from the irregularly-pinnate/laterally-branched colony illustrated by Stiasny. Likewise, the figured spindles with their large warts, some in girdles, bear little resemblance to the densely warted, robust spindles and ovals figured by Stiasny and also by Grasshoff. However, the colony and the sclerites illustrated with the description by Fernando (2011) do look very much like Subergorgia rubra. Kumar et al. (2015) lists the species and provides the colony figure from the 2014 and 2017 publications above.
description: Published as part of Ramvilas, Ghosh, Alderslade, Philip & Ranjeet, Kutty, 2023, The taxonomy of Indian gorgonians: an assessment of the descriptive records of gorgonians (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) recorded as occurring in the territorial waters of India, along with neighbouring regions and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the highlighting of perceived unethical practice, pp. 1-124 in Zootaxa 5236 (1) on page 23, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5236.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7639327
Cylidrus Latreille 1829
Creators: name: Burke, Alan F.
name: Leavengood, John M.
name: Zolnerowich, Gregory
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Cleridae
Cylidrus

description: Cylidrus Latreille, 1829
Type species: Clerus cyaneus Fabricius, 1787 (original designation) Synonyms: Epiteles Newman, 1842
description: Published as part of Burke, Alan F., Leavengood, John M. & Zolnerowich, Gregory, 2015, A checklist of the New World species of Tillinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae), with an illustrated key to genera and new country records, pp. 1-39 in Zootaxa 4059 (1) on page 8, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4059.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/234970
Integrated Proteomic and Metabolic Analysis of Breast Cancer
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: The molecular features special to metastatic breast carcinomas that support their motile and invasive behavior are complex and poorly defined. Although one generally accepted notion assigns proteins, such as proteases, a central role in promoting the aggressive properties of metastatic breast tumors, the actual functions played by individual enzymes in breast cancer remain elusive. Indeed, many proteases and their endogenous inhibitors show altered expression patterns during breast tumorigenesis; however, the overall functional outcome of such changes remain unclear. To better understand how proteases and related enzymes impact breast cancer, we have developed a novel chemical proteomics method termed activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) that allows large enzyme families to be analyzed for changes in their activity directly in whole cell, tissue and fluid samples. From our analysis of human cancer cell lines and tissue we have identified a novel enzyme, KIAA1363, as an invasiveness related serine hydrolase. We hypothesize that this enzyme may potentially be a new diagnostic marker or therapeutic target important for the detection and treatment of aggressive breast cancer.

 We will use ABPP, a competitive ABPP strategy and various biochemical, cell biology, and mouse genetic models to study the potential therapeutic target KIAA1363.

 We propose to: (1) optimize selective inhibitors of KIAA1363 and use these reagents to test the function of this hydrolase in breast cancer models, (2) characterize breast tumorigenesis in KIAA1363(-/-) mice, and (3) Identify endogenous substrates of KIAA1363 by global metabolite profiling. Conventional genomic and proteomic methods measure changes in transcript and protein abundance, respectively, and therefore provide only an indirect assessment of protein function. Numerous posttranslational forms of enzyme regulation remain undetected by these approaches. In this research project, we are addressing the utility of higher-order functional proteomics technologies by developing and applying chemical probes that measure protein activity rather than abundance.

 The proteomics methods we are applying in this application can discover new therapeutic targets and lead compounds for treating breast cancer, we believe these methods have the great potential to accelerate the discovery of drugs that increase breast cancer survival and therefore reduce the stress and anxiety associated with this disease. Thus, we believe that our proteomics method, through identifying new drug targets and lead inhibitors for breast cancer, could overcome difficulties associated with treating this disease.
A Novel Predictive Test for Her-2/EGFR Ab-based Therapeutics
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Invasion and metastasis are still the greatest challenges to the development of successful breast cancer therapies. There is now proof of the existence of cancer cells that, having detached from the primary breast tumor, circulate in the bloodstream and bone marrow. These circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are suspected to constitute the "seeds" for subsequent growth of additional tumors (called metastasis) in tissues distant from the original breast lesion. Thus, CTCs may represent the “real cancer cells” that need to be characterized at the genetic and molecular levels to better understand the dynamic aspects of metastasis.

 Our rationale is that CTCs are unique to each patient, and tumor markers in circulating cells might differ compared to the primary tumor. We plan to, first, isolate CTCs from blood and bone marrow from breast cancer patients using antibody (immunomagnetic capture) and flow cytometry techniques. These methods are expected to distinguish CTCs from normal blood cells. We then plan to amplify the CTC DNA and analyze it for genomic changes (comparative genomic hybridization), especially compared to cells from the primary tumor. Finally, we plan to apply these methods to follow patient CTCs during therapy to see whether specific markers (e.g., ErbB2) associated with tumors change during therapy, and whether specific changes can be associated with tumor progression during treatment or through innate or acquired resistance to therapy.

 Our investigation of CTCs has two broad goals. First, the success or failure of adjuvant therapy can be determined only after an observation period of several years. Periodic examination of peripheral blood CTCs during therapy could be informative with respect to the therapeutic approach. Thus, chemotherapy might be tailored to the specific tumor of a patient, follow the course of therapy, and provide insights in to the current status of treatment. CTC-based information might predict those patients at risk for relapse. Secondly, our results could identify genes involved in metastatic progression. This information might spare patients unnecessary treatments and develop new information on tumor molecular targets that might be further studied to interrupt the spread of the disease.
Cylidrus abdominalis Klug 1842
Creators: name: Burke, Alan F.
name: Leavengood, John M.
name: Zolnerowich, Gregory
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Cleridae
Cylidrus
Cylidrus abdominalis

description: Cylidrus abdominalis Klug, 1842
Synonyms: Cylidrus fasciatus Laporte, 1836.
Distribution: SA: Introduced and established in Brazil (Espirito Santo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Santa Catarina). References: Klug 1842; Gorham 1876; Lohde 1900; Schenkling 1910; Corporaal 1950.
description: Published as part of Burke, Alan F., Leavengood, John M. & Zolnerowich, Gregory, 2015, A checklist of the New World species of Tillinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae), with an illustrated key to genera and new country records, pp. 1-39 in Zootaxa 4059 (1) on page 8, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4059.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/234970
Inventaire du fonds Bastaire de littérature populaire et infantine [version 1]. Jules Verne
Creators: name: :Unkn
Publisher: name: NAKALA - https://nakala.fr (Huma-Num - CNRS)
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/04ces3204
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Numérisation ICB CollEx-Persée AAP20212022
description: Les titres sont ceux donnés par Jean Bastaire. Les dates indiquées ont été établies depuis un courrier de Jean à Michel Bastaire qui lui demandait de dresser l'inventaire. Et la date de fin correspond à la donation et à la publication de Lectures englouties. Listes manuscrites de la collection établie par Jean Bastaire et Michel Bastaire ; Jean sous forme de livrets thématiques et feuilles volantes au format A5. Michel a consigné les titres dans un carnet bloc type Rhodia format A6.
description: Source: Fonds Bastaire Université Clermont Auvergne (Bas-G08_D083)
description: Relation: http://www.calames.abes.fr/pub/ms/_631139801_Bas-G08_D083
description: created: 1993/2008
Cymatodera Gray 1832
Creators: name: Burke, Alan F.
name: Leavengood, John M.
name: Zolnerowich, Gregory
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Cleridae
Cymatodera

description: Cymatodera Gray, 1832 (Fig. 4 -G)
Type species: Cymatodera hopei Gray, 1832 (monotypy) Synonyms: Cymatoderus Desmarest in Chenu, 1851
description: Published as part of Burke, Alan F., Leavengood, John M. & Zolnerowich, Gregory, 2015, A checklist of the New World species of Tillinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae), with an illustrated key to genera and new country records, pp. 1-39 in Zootaxa 4059 (1) on page 9, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4059.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/234970
title: Howthorn :
title: Guidelines for the Conduct of Tests for Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability.
titleType: Subtitle
Creators: name: International Union For The Protection Of New Varieties Of Plants,
Publisher: name: International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants,
Year: 0
Subjects: New Varieties of Plants
Hawthorn

description: The purpose of these guidelines (“Test Guidelines”) is to elaborate the principles contained in the General Introduction (document TG/1/3), and its associated TGP documents, into detailed practical guidance for the harmonized examination of distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) and, in particular, to identify appropriate characteristics for the examination of DUS and production of harmonized variety descriptions.
Cymatodera acutipennis Rifkind 2015
Creators: name: Burke, Alan F.
name: Leavengood, John M.
name: Zolnerowich, Gregory
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Cleridae
Cymatodera
Cymatodera acutipennis

description: Cymatodera acutipennis Rifkind, 2015
Distribution: MEX: COAH.
References: Rifkind 2015.
description: Published as part of Burke, Alan F., Leavengood, John M. & Zolnerowich, Gregory, 2015, A checklist of the New World species of Tillinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae), with an illustrated key to genera and new country records, pp. 1-39 in Zootaxa 4059 (1) on page 9, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4059.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/234970
The Role of Gli3 in Mouse Embryonic Mammary Gland Formation
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Normal development of an organ, in this case the breast, can be considered to be a progressive specialization of groups of cells in exchange for loss of their capacity to divide. These processes are influenced by the communication between neighboring tissues. Breast cancer can be considered to be the reverse process. Moreover, it has become increasingly clear that tumors arise as a result of misregulation of proteins that play a role in normal development. Less is know about the mechanisms through which these proteins regulate normal or tumor development.

 Mutant mice lacking the function of any of the proteins GLI3, FGF10 or FGFR2b have similar defects in breast development. Here we propose to study the role of Gli3 in cell specialization and cell division, as well as in tissue communication in the developing breast. In addition, we want to study whether Gli3 collaborates with Fgf10 and Fgfr2b in these processes. Understanding these mechanisms may lead to better understanding of breast cancer.

 Gli3 has multiple functions, which are independent from each other, during the initiation of mammary gland development and in shaping the developing early gland. Gli3 interacts with Fgf10 and Fgfr2b during the initiation of mammary gland development in the mouse.

 We will compare the number of dividing cells in developing normal and mutant breasts. We will look if there are differences in the size and shape of the developing breasts or if there is production of other specific proteins in the developing normal and mutant breasts. We will separate the tissues from normal or mutant breasts and exchange them. Subsequently, we will culture these 'reconstituted' breasts in the laboratory, to see if any of these will result in a normally developing breast. This will tell us in which of the tissues the function of Gli3 is essential for normal development, and whether or not the observed defect in shaping the breast is a consequence of a delay in the onset of breast formation.

 We will identify how Gli3 is involved in maintaining the delicate balance between cell division and cell specialization in the mammary gland. Loss of this control is associated with the onset of cancer. No previous studies have reported a role for GLI3 in mammary gland biology and pathology, although its related proteins GLI and GLI2 have been associated with other types of cancer, and GLI2 has been associated with aberrant breast development. This underscores the need to determine if GLI3 has a role in mammary gland development and pathology, which is the focus of this study.
Cymatodera aegra Wolcott 1921
Creators: name: Burke, Alan F.
name: Leavengood, John M.
name: Zolnerowich, Gregory
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Cleridae
Cymatodera
Cymatodera aegra

description: Cymatodera aegra Wolcott, 1921
Distribution: USA: AZ, CA, NM, TX; MEX: BCS, CHIH.
References: Wolcott 1921, 1947; Corporal 1950; Vaurie 1952b; Papp 1960; Barr 1975; Rifkind 2006; Burke and Zolnerowich 2014c; Opitz 2014.
description: Published as part of Burke, Alan F., Leavengood, John M. & Zolnerowich, Gregory, 2015, A checklist of the New World species of Tillinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae), with an illustrated key to genera and new country records, pp. 1-39 in Zootaxa 4059 (1) on page 9, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4059.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/234970
Annella ornata
Creators: name: Ramvilas, Ghosh
name: Alderslade, Philip
name: Ranjeet, Kutty
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Cnidaria
Anthozoa
Alcyonacea
Subergorgiidae
Annella
Annella ornata

description: Annella ornata (Thomson & Simpson, 1909)
Subergorgia ornata Thomson & Simpson, 1909: 164–167, pl. 2; fig. 7b&7d (Lakshadweep; Andaman Is.).
Opinion: This species does occur in the region.
Justification:
Literature analysis: This species was reassigned to Annella Gray, 1858 when Grasshoff (1999) re-established that genus for the flabellate, net-like, shallow water scleraxonians that were previously included in Subergorgia. A main characteristic of the species is the surface sclerites being aggregated to form pale, reticulate ridges. The species was considered as being valid by Nutting (1911: 25–26) and Stiasny (1937: 105–107) but has rarely been recorded in the literature. It was listed as a synonym of Annella reticulata by Grasshoff (1999), but the second author believes it is a valid taxon and may be a complex of at least two species.
description: Published as part of Ramvilas, Ghosh, Alderslade, Philip & Ranjeet, Kutty, 2023, The taxonomy of Indian gorgonians: an assessment of the descriptive records of gorgonians (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) recorded as occurring in the territorial waters of India, along with neighbouring regions and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the highlighting of perceived unethical practice, pp. 1-124 in Zootaxa 5236 (1) on page 25, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5236.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7639327
Cymatodera aethiops Wolcott 1910
Creators: name: Burke, Alan F.
name: Leavengood, John M.
name: Zolnerowich, Gregory
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Cleridae
Cymatodera
Cymatodera aethiops

description: Cymatodera aethiops Wolcott, 1910
Distribution: USA: AZ, NM, TX.
References: Schenkling 1910; Wolcott 1910a, 1921, 1947; Corporaal 1950; Papp 1960; Barr 1975.
description: Published as part of Burke, Alan F., Leavengood, John M. & Zolnerowich, Gregory, 2015, A checklist of the New World species of Tillinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae), with an illustrated key to genera and new country records, pp. 1-39 in Zootaxa 4059 (1) on page 9, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4059.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/234970
Melithaea
Creators: name: Ramvilas, Ghosh
name: Alderslade, Philip
name: Ranjeet, Kutty
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Cnidaria
Anthozoa
Alcyonacea
Melithaeidae
Melithaea

description: Genus: Melithaea
Preliminary remarks: The melithaeids are one of the most difficult groups to identify. There are usually many different sclerite forms in a single colony, with many intermediates between each form, which makes it extremely difficult to compare with other specimens. This problem is exacerbated by the low number of sclerite images figured in most descriptions and the general poor quality of those images, resulting in very few descriptions that approach adequacy. In 2014 Reijnen et al. used morphological and molecular data to propose that all the familial genera recognised at that time should be synonymised under the genus Melithaea. This genus is now comprised of 113 species, very few of which have a description of sufficient quality to have a good chance of facilitating an accurate identification.
description: Published as part of Ramvilas, Ghosh, Alderslade, Philip & Ranjeet, Kutty, 2023, The taxonomy of Indian gorgonians: an assessment of the descriptive records of gorgonians (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) recorded as occurring in the territorial waters of India, along with neighbouring regions and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the highlighting of perceived unethical practice, pp. 1-124 in Zootaxa 5236 (1) on page 26, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5236.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7639327
Cymatodera angulifera Gorham 1882
Creators: name: Burke, Alan F.
name: Leavengood, John M.
name: Zolnerowich, Gregory
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Cleridae
Cymatodera
Cymatodera angulifera

description: Cymatodera angulifera Gorham, 1882
Distribution: MEX: CHIS, GUE, MOR, OAX; CAM: CR, GUA, HON.
References: Gorham 1882; Lohde 1900; Schenkling 1910; Wolcott 1910a, 1927; Corporaal 1950; Barr 1975; Papp 1960; Burke and Zolnerowich 2014c; Leavengood and Garner 2014.
description: Published as part of Burke, Alan F., Leavengood, John M. & Zolnerowich, Gregory, 2015, A checklist of the New World species of Tillinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae), with an illustrated key to genera and new country records, pp. 1-39 in Zootaxa 4059 (1) on page 9, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4059.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/234970
Melithaea andamanensis
Creators: name: Ramvilas, Ghosh
name: Alderslade, Philip
name: Ranjeet, Kutty
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Cnidaria
Anthozoa
Alcyonacea
Melithaeidae
Melithaea
Melithaea andamanensis

description: Melithaea andamanensis (van Ofwegen, 1987)
Acabaria andamanensis van Ofwegen, 1987: 27–31, fig. 17–19 (Andaman Sea).
Opinion: This species does occur in the region.
Justification:
These Indian records seem to be either invalid or unconfirmable: Fernando 2011: 23–24, pl. 5, fig. 2–2d (SW coast); Fernando et al. 2017: 25, pl. 7, fig. 1–1d (SW coast).
Literature analysis: This species was originally described as Acabaria andamanensis with “? Melitodes variabilis Thomson & Simpson, 1909 ” cited as a possible synonym. The identical accounts by Fernando (2011) and Fernando et al. (2017) assign a specimen to this species, illustrating it with exceedingly small and rather fuzzy images of clusters of sclerites making a comparison with those provided by Ofwegen extremely difficult, if not impossible. However, one can see that in the second of the two sclerite images there are two sclerite forms (a large tuberculate spindle and a very long collaret sclerite with a thick mid region and horn-like ends) that are not present in the description of the holotype. Kumar et al. (2019) just listed the species.
description: Published as part of Ramvilas, Ghosh, Alderslade, Philip & Ranjeet, Kutty, 2023, The taxonomy of Indian gorgonians: an assessment of the descriptive records of gorgonians (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) recorded as occurring in the territorial waters of India, along with neighbouring regions and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the highlighting of perceived unethical practice, pp. 1-124 in Zootaxa 5236 (1) on pages 26-27, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5236.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7639327
Cymatodera angustata Spinola 1844
Creators: name: Burke, Alan F.
name: Leavengood, John M.
name: Zolnerowich, Gregory
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Cleridae
Cymatodera
Cymatodera angustata

description: Cymatodera angustata Spinola, 1844
Synonyms: Cymatodera pillosella LeConte 1859; Cymatodera spinolai Barr 1950. Distribution: USA: AZ, CA, ID, NV, OR; MEX *: BCS.
References: Spinola 1844; LeConte 1859; Schenkling 1910; Wolcott 1947; Barr 1950b, 1975; Ekis 1975; Rifkind 2015.
description: Published as part of Burke, Alan F., Leavengood, John M. & Zolnerowich, Gregory, 2015, A checklist of the New World species of Tillinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae), with an illustrated key to genera and new country records, pp. 1-39 in Zootaxa 4059 (1) on page 9, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4059.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/234970
Cymatodera antennata Schaeffer 1908
Creators: name: Burke, Alan F.
name: Leavengood, John M.
name: Zolnerowich, Gregory
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Cleridae
Cymatodera
Cymatodera antennata

description: Cymatodera antennata Schaeffer, 1908
Synonyms: Cymatodera soror Wolcott, 1910; Cymatodera torosa Wolcott, 1910. Distribution: USA: AZ, CA, NM; MEX: CHIH, JAL, MICH, SON.
References: Schaeffer 1908; Schenkling 1910; Wolcott 1910a, 1947; Wolcott 1921; Corporaal 1950; Vaurie 1952b; Papp 1960; Barr 1975; Burke and Zolnerowich 2014c; Opitz 2014.
description: Published as part of Burke, Alan F., Leavengood, John M. & Zolnerowich, Gregory, 2015, A checklist of the New World species of Tillinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae), with an illustrated key to genera and new country records, pp. 1-39 in Zootaxa 4059 (1) on page 9, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4059.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/234970
Melithaea biserialis
Creators: name: Ramvilas, Ghosh
name: Alderslade, Philip
name: Ranjeet, Kutty
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Cnidaria
Anthozoa
Alcyonacea
Melithaeidae
Melithaea
Melithaea biserialis

description: Melithaea biserialis (Kükenthal, 1908)
Acabaria biserialis Kükenthal, 1908: 195 (Red Sea); Grasshoff 1976: 3–4 (Red Sea) (part); Grasshoff 2000: 17, fig. 24 (Red Sea).
Not Acabaria biserialis Ofwegen 1987: 36–38, figs. 22–23.
Opinion: There is no evidence that this species occurs in the region.
Justification:
These Indian records seem to be either invalid or unconfirmable: Fernando 2011: 24, pl. 6, fig. 1&1c (SE coast); Fernando et al. 2017: 26, pl. 8, fig. 1–1c (SE coast).
Literature analysis: This species was originally named Acabaria biserialis. The accounts provided by Fernando (2011) and Fernando et al. (2017) are identical. Their specimen is quite robust, has massive clubs and ovoids in the coenenchyme and extremely large anthocodial sclerites, but Grasshoff’s (2000) illustrations of the holotype show that the colony is finely branched with very pronounced nodes, and that the polyp and coenenchymal sclerites are small. The accounts by Fernando (2011) and Fernando et al. (2017) provide illustrations but lack any description, referring instead to Ofwegen (1987). However, they cite Grasshoff (2000) in their synonymy when that author stated that Acabaria biserialis of Ofwegen is not synonymous. Kumar et al. (2017: PY-B, 2019, 2019a) record that the species occurs in the region and give references.
description: Published as part of Ramvilas, Ghosh, Alderslade, Philip & Ranjeet, Kutty, 2023, The taxonomy of Indian gorgonians: an assessment of the descriptive records of gorgonians (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) recorded as occurring in the territorial waters of India, along with neighbouring regions and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the highlighting of perceived unethical practice, pp. 1-124 in Zootaxa 5236 (1) on page 27, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5236.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7639327
Melithaea braueri
Creators: name: Ramvilas, Ghosh
name: Alderslade, Philip
name: Ranjeet, Kutty
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Cnidaria
Anthozoa
Alcyonacea
Melithaeidae
Melithaea
Melithaea braueri

description: Melithaea braueri (Kükenthal, 1919)
Wrightella braueri Kükenthal, 1919: 902 (Seychelles).
Opinion: There is no evidence that this species occurs in the region.
Justification:
These Indian records seem to be either invalid or unconfirmable: Kumar et al. 2014a: 100, pl. 47, fig. A–D (Nicobar); Fernando et al. 2017: 27, pl. 9, fig. A–D (Nicobar).
Literature analysis: This species was originally named Wrightella braueri, but despite Kükenthal (1924) expanding his very short original description, there have never been any colony or sclerite illustrations of the species and therefore the necessary details of the characteristics remain unknown to this day and identifying specimens as this species based on Kükenthal’s text alone seems impossible. The publications of Kumar et al. (2014a) and Fernando et al. (2017) present an identical account, which must be based on assumptions and is not verifiable. Kumar et al. (2015) just lists the species under the original name and provide a colony image, Kumar & Raghunathan (2015: PY-P) just list the species, and Kumar et al. (2015, 2018) lists the species and provide a colony figure. Kumar et al. (2019, 2019a) remark that the species has been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and give references.
description: Published as part of Ramvilas, Ghosh, Alderslade, Philip & Ranjeet, Kutty, 2023, The taxonomy of Indian gorgonians: an assessment of the descriptive records of gorgonians (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) recorded as occurring in the territorial waters of India, along with neighbouring regions and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the highlighting of perceived unethical practice, pp. 1-124 in Zootaxa 5236 (1) on page 27, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5236.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7639327
Melithaea caledonica Grasshoff 1999
Creators: name: Ramvilas, Ghosh
name: Alderslade, Philip
name: Ranjeet, Kutty
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Cnidaria
Anthozoa
Alcyonacea
Melithaeidae
Melithaea
Melithaea caledonica

description: Melithaea caledonica Grasshoff, 1999
Melithaea caledonica Grasshoff, 1999: 8, pl. 1, fig. 3; fig. 7a, 8 (New Caledonia).
Melithaea stormii Tixier-Durivault, 1970: 327 (New Caledonia).
Opinion: There is no evidence that this species occurs in the region.
Justification:
These Indian records seem to be either invalid or unconfirmable: Kumar et al. 2014a: 94, pl. 44, fig. A–D (Andaman and Nicobar Is.); Fernando et al. 2017: 29, pl. 10, fig. A–E (Andaman and Nicobar Is.).
Literature analysis: The descriptions given by Kumar et al. (2014a) and Fernando et al. (2017) are identical, but it is impossible to know the true characteristics of their specimen as much of the description is taken from Grasshoff’ (1999), even down to the exact size of the sclerites, and it is rather disconnected or out of context. The authors state, “Coenenchyme are irregularly tuberculated spindles and plates; many irregular plates like (sic) sclerites also present in the cortex.”, while Grasshoff states “Sclerites of coenenchyme are irregularly tuberculated spindles and plates; many irregular plate-like sclerites are present in the holotype and paratypes from the same locality, Stn 192, but in the paratype from Stn 242 such sclerites are almost absent”. The authors also state “…plates like sclerites also present in the cortex. The large curved sclerites above them are 0.15 mm long; the flat platelets in the tentacles are dentate, the largest was 0.1 mm long”, while Grasshoff states, “The sclerites of the anthocodia are flattened, the transversally placed bows attain a length of 0.2 mm, the large curved sclerites above them are 0.15 mm long; the flat platelets in the tentacles are dentate, the largest was 0.1 mm long…”
Regardless, the sclerites illustrated by Kumar et al. (2014a) and Fernando et al. (2017) are quite different to those belonging to the holotype. Contrary to their text, they figure complex foliate spheroids and leafclubs as cortex sclerites, whereas Grasshoff figures smooth foliate spheroids and heavily warted, irregular spindles and ovoids. Kumar et al. (2015) lists the species and figure two of the specimens from the 2014 and 2017 papers above, Kumar et al. (2018, 2019, 2019a) remark that the species occurs in the region and give references, and Kumar et al. (2019b) just list the species. Melithaea caledonica is possibly endemic to New Caledonia.
description: Published as part of Ramvilas, Ghosh, Alderslade, Philip & Ranjeet, Kutty, 2023, The taxonomy of Indian gorgonians: an assessment of the descriptive records of gorgonians (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) recorded as occurring in the territorial waters of India, along with neighbouring regions and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the highlighting of perceived unethical practice, pp. 1-124 in Zootaxa 5236 (1) on page 28, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5236.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7639327
Cymatodera anulata Rifkind 2015
Creators: name: Burke, Alan F.
name: Leavengood, John M.
name: Zolnerowich, Gregory
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Cleridae
Cymatodera
Cymatodera anulata

description: Cymatodera anulata Rifkind, 2015
Distribution: MEX: OAX.
References: Rifkind 2015.
description: Published as part of Burke, Alan F., Leavengood, John M. & Zolnerowich, Gregory, 2015, A checklist of the New World species of Tillinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae), with an illustrated key to genera and new country records, pp. 1-39 in Zootaxa 4059 (1) on page 9, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4059.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/234970
Breast Cancer Gene Therapy Using a Metastasis Inhibitor
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: At the time of diagnosis, over 60% of breast cancer patients will have disease that has spread (metastasis) from the primary site in the breast to other parts of the body. While the primary tumor can be removed, there is no adequate therapy for preventing the spread of the tumor to secondary sites. We have been studying an anti-metastatic protein from the venom of the Southern copperhead snake, called contortrostatin (CN). This protein blocks the function of a group of cell surface receptors called integrins, which are the key cellular receptors that allow cancer cell attachment, movement, and migration in the body. Thus, the integrins on cancer cells are prime targets to develop new drugs and treatment modalities. Presently we use an experimental model where mice are implanted with human breast cancer cells in the mammary fat tissue to test CN for blockage of tumor growth and metastasis. Daily injections of CN into these tumors slows their growth rate and also reduces their metastatic spread by >95%. We have evidence that this effect of CN is due to a combination of three effects which include (i) impeding invasion of the cancer cells into blood vessels, (ii) preventing the attachment of cancer cells to the blood vessel wall, and (iii) blocking new blood vessel growth (angiogenesis) into tumors.

 Gene therapy is one of the most promising recent developments in medicine. Using a non-disease causing retrovirus, new genes can be integrated into the chromosomes of cells. These genes can make new proteins with therapeutic functions. We plan to use this approach to introduce the CN gene into cells called myoblasts, which are precursors of muscle cells. The myoblast cells will be implanted into the tumors, or other appropriate sites in the animals, to produce CN. We anticipate that the CN so produced will significantly inhibit the growth and metastasis of the breast cancer.

 Our project uniquely combines gene therapy with a potential anti-metastatic agent, which will result in continuous delivery of CN directly to the site of tumor growth. This research may lead to a clinical application addressing an important need for anti-metastatic therapy in breast cancer patients.
Melithaea cinquemiglia
Creators: name: Ramvilas, Ghosh
name: Alderslade, Philip
name: Ranjeet, Kutty
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Cnidaria
Anthozoa
Alcyonacea
Melithaeidae
Melithaea
Melithaea cinquemiglia

description: Melithaea cinquemiglia (Grasshoff, 1999)
Acabaria cinquemiglia Grasshoff, 1999: 9, pl. fig. 9; pl. 2, fig. 3 (New Caledonia).
Mopsella spinosa Tixier-Durivault, 1970: 328.
Opinion: There is no evidence that this species occurs in the region.
Justification:
These Indian records seem to be either invalid or unconfirmable: Kumar et al. 2014a: 90, pl. 42, fig. A–E (South Andaman); Fernando et al. 2017: 31, pl. 11, fig. A–D (Andaman Is.).
Literature analysis: This species was originally named Acabaria cinquemiglia. The descriptions given by Kumar et al. (2014a) and Fernando et al. (2017) are identical, but it is impossible to know the true characteristics of their specimen as virtually all of their description is taken word-for-word from Grasshoff’s original text, which has resulted in some of their figures being quite different from their own text. The authors state that colonies are red and the polyps are arranged all around the branches, but in fig. C of their plates the pale-yellow brown colony has the biserial polyps. They also state that the coenenchyme contains long, slender spindles “with high tubercles and flat processes, many are curious looking caterpillar shapes” (as per Grasshoff), but the cortex sclerites in their figure are just short spindles and none bear any resemblance to the leaf spindles of the holotype. Additionally, the coenenchymal and anthocodial sclerites of the Indian material are less than half the size of those in the holotype. Kumar et al. (2015) lists the species and provide a colony image, and Kumar et al. (2019, 2019a) remark that the species occurs in the region and give references. The species is probably endemic to New Caledonia.
description: Published as part of Ramvilas, Ghosh, Alderslade, Philip & Ranjeet, Kutty, 2023, The taxonomy of Indian gorgonians: an assessment of the descriptive records of gorgonians (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) recorded as occurring in the territorial waters of India, along with neighbouring regions and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the highlighting of perceived unethical practice, pp. 1-124 in Zootaxa 5236 (1) on page 28, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5236.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7639327
Tumor Suppression by Dystroglycan in Breast Epithelial Cells
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Normal breast epithelial cells are organized as a single layer of cells with one side of the cell attached to a basement membrane. Cellular attachment to proteins present in the basement membrane is critical to breast cell physiology, providing both structural and behavioral cues to the cell. This cell-basement membrane interaction prevents uncontrolled cell growth. In breast cancer the cells grow as disorganized masses, attachment process is often absent, and growth control is not regulated. Specific molecular information on breast cell attachment is one potential key to controlling disease progression, and even for finding ways to prevent breast cancer. I have recently discovered that a molecule called "dystroglycan" (DG) is important for attachment and signaling growth arrest in breast cells. When we have studied breast tumor cells, it appears that dystroglycan is non-functional in the majority. Most importantly, we find that introducing dystroglycan function into breast cancer cells can restore many normal properties.

 In the early stages of breast cancer, there is considerable evidence that restoring critical attachment function will serve to reverse the disease. Evidence indicates that loss of DG function is one part of cancer progression. Nothing is currently known about how dystroglycan functions in normal breast cells and how it’s function is undermined in cancer cells. We plan to use this CBCRP funding to study: (i) how dystroglycan acts in normal breast cells; and (ii) which functions of DG are critical to enact its tumor suppressor function. The long-term aim of this study is to understand how dystroglycan function is undermined in tumor cells, and identify methods to restore DG function to these cells. The experimental approaches are, first, to analyze the signaling pathways emanating from dystroglycan in normal cells. This will be accomplished by comparing signaling events in normal breast cells with cells where the dystroglycan gene has been genetically deleted. In addition, we will compare signaling events in a tumor cell line, where DG function is undermined, with the same cells where dystroglycan’s tumor suppressor function has been restored. These combined experiments will help us determine which specific signaling events from DG are critical to restore normal cell behavior to tumor cells.

 The investigation of DG as a tumor suppressor is an entirely novel approach to understanding cancer. This research will shed light on a novel and important growth-regulatory mechanism within breast epithelial cells, and reveal some root causes of tumor cell behavior. But most importantly, the studies presented here can ultimately reveal strategies to restore critical aspects of dystroglycan function in tumor cells, giving us new methods to fight cancer cell proliferation and spreading.
Melithaea delicata
Creators: name: Ramvilas, Ghosh
name: Alderslade, Philip
name: Ranjeet, Kutty
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Cnidaria
Anthozoa
Alcyonacea
Melithaeidae
Melithaea
Melithaea delicata

description: Melithaea delicata (Hickson, 1940)
Acabaria delicata Hickson, 1940: 16, fig. 6; pl. 1, fig. 3 (Ghardaqa, Red Sea).
Acabaria gracillima Ofwegen 1987: 41, fig. 26 (specimen of Stiasny 1940: 147 (Red Sea)).
Not Acabaria aff. delicata Ofwegen 1987: 38–42, fig. 24–25.
Not Acabaria delicata Grasshoff 2000: 17–19, figs. 25–27.
Opinion: There is no evidence that this species occurs in the region.
Justification:
Literature analysis: This species was originally named Acabaria delicata. In his original description, Hickson stated that the sclerites were mostly very narrow, with simple well-spaced tubercles and unlike those of any other species of the genus and he figured four, very simplistic, sclerite drawings, but Ofwegen (1987) figured the sclerites from a specimen identified by Stiasny as Acabaria gracillima Ridley which he stated were identical to those on one of Hickson’s microscope slides of the type of M. delicata. The sclerites figured by Kumar et al. (2019) include many large, robust, heavily warted spindles—some unilaterally developed; and they bear very little resemblance to those figured by Ofwegen. It seems likely the authors based their identification on Grasshoff’s (2000) description of the species as the list of synonyms is the same and the figured sclerites are similar, but they do not cite Grasshoff’s paper.
The paper of Kumar et al. (2019) appears not to have been peer reviewed as it contains many errors, both typographic and contextual. For example: 1) the list of valid synonymic references for A. delicata is the same as that given by Grasshoff, but it includes three that Grasshoff specifically stated were not conspecific; 2) they include as a synonym A. biserialis Grasshoff 1976, but that is also given as a synonym in their description of Melthaea biserialis; 3) part of the text states, “The coenenchyme has spindle simple irregular tuberculation sclerites and club shape sclerites presented in the calyx … The average surface of calyx is 0.10 mm to 1.04 mm clubs and spindles”. Melthaea delicata is probably endemic to the Red Sea.
description: Published as part of Ramvilas, Ghosh, Alderslade, Philip & Ranjeet, Kutty, 2023, The taxonomy of Indian gorgonians: an assessment of the descriptive records of gorgonians (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) recorded as occurring in the territorial waters of India, along with neighbouring regions and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the highlighting of perceived unethical practice, pp. 1-124 in Zootaxa 5236 (1) on page 29, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5236.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7639327