A redescription of Pseudorhabdosynochus epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1938), the type-species of Pseudorhabdosynochus Yamaguti, 1958 (Monogenea: Diplectanidae), and the description of P. satyui n. sp. from Epinephelus akaara off Japan.

Syst Parasitol. 2009 Jan;72(1):27-55

Authors: Justine JL

Pseudorhabdosynochus epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1938) has been recorded from a variety of hosts, mainly groupers. All type-specimens of Diplectanum epinepheli Yamaguti, 1938, Pseudorhabdosynochus epinepheli Yamaguti, 1958 and Cycloplectanum hongkongensis Beverley-Burton & Suriano, 1981 are figured: it is concluded, as did Kritsky & Beverley-Burton (1986), that the three species are synonymous. In addition, numerous monogenean specimens from a deep-sea grouper, Epinephelus chlorostigma, collected off New Caledonia, South Pacific, were prepared using various methods and described. These specimens are also conspecific with P. epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1938) and represent a new geographical record. This species has a sclerotised vagina with a very characteristic primary chamber. The simultaneous presence of P. lantauensis (Beverley-Burton & Suriano, 1981) and P. epinepheli was noted in both type-slides of D. epinepheli from Japan (host: E. akaara) and C. hongkongensis from Hong Kong (host: E. bruneus). Several causes are suspected for the alleged 'generalist' character of P. epinepheli, including the misidentification of either fish or monogeneans and the accidental exchanges of monogeneans between fishes of different species kept alive in the same tank. Finally, the confirmed list of hosts of P. epinepheli includes E. akaara, E. awoara and E. chlorostigma; it is suggested that the latter, a widespread deep-sea fish, serves as a reservoir for the infection of the other species, which are associated with shallow waters. P. satyui n. sp. is described from two specimens found on slides from E. akaara (from the Inland Sea of Japan) deposited by Yamaguti; the new species has a sclerotised vagina with characteristic spherical chambers.

PMID: 19048406 [PubMed - in process]

Prosorhynchine trematodes (Digenea: Bucephalidae) from epinephelines (Perciformes: Serranidae) on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

Syst Parasitol. 2009 Jan;72(1):57-69

Authors: Bott NJ, Cribb TH

Six new species of bucephalid trematodes from the prosorhynchine bucephalid genera Prosorhynchus Odhner, 1905 and Neidhartia Nagaty, 1937 are reported from the epinepheline genera Cephalopholis, Cromileptes, Epinephelus and Variola on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Two species of Prosorhynchus and one of Neidhartia are reported from Epinephelus spp., P. jexi n. sp. from E. quoyanus, P. lafii n. sp. from E. fuscoguttatus and N. epinepheli n. sp. from E. maculatus. The other three new species are P. robertsthomsoni n. sp. from Cephalopholis argus, C. cyanostigma and C. miniata, P. conorjonesi n. sp. from Cromileptes altivelis, and P. milleri n. sp. from Variola louti. Extensive examinations of other piscivorous fish species from the Great Barrier Reef have not revealed these six bucephalid species, which appear to be restricted at least to the host genera from which they are reported here.

PMID: 19048407 [PubMed - in process]

Automatic recognition of harmonic bird sounds using a frequency track extraction algorithm.

J Acoust Soc Am. 2008 Sep;124(3):1830

Authors: Heller JR, Pinezich JD

This paper demonstrates automatic recognition of vocalizations of four common bird species (herring gull [Larus argentatus], blue jay [Cyanocitta cristata], Canada goose [Branta canadensis], and American crow [Corvus brachyrhynchos]) using an algorithm that extracts frequency track sets using track properties of importance and harmonic correlation. The main result is that a complex harmonic vocalization is rendered into a set of related tracks that is easily applied to statistical models of the actual bird vocalizations. For each vocalization type, a statistical model of the vocalization was created by transforming the training set frequency tracks into feature vectors. The extraction algorithm extracts sets of frequency tracks from test recordings that closely approximate harmonic sounds in the file being processed. Each extracted set in its final form is then compared with the statistical models generated during the training phase using Mahalanobis distance functions. If it matches one of the models closely, the recognizer declares the set an occurrence of the corresponding vocalization. The method was evaluated against a test set containing vocalizations of both the 4 target species and 16 additional species as well as background noise containing planes, cars, and various natural sounds.

PMID: 19045673 [PubMed - in process]

Ontogeny of manipulative behavior and nut-cracking in young tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella): a Perception-action perspective.

Dev Sci. 2008 Nov;11(6):828-40

Authors: de Resende BD, Ottoni EB, Fragaszy DM

How do capuchin monkeys learn to use stones to crack open nuts? Perception-action theory posits that individuals explore producing varying spatial and force relations among objects and surfaces, thereby learning about affordances of such relations and how to produce them. Such learning supports the discovery of tool use. We present longitudinal developmental data from semifree-ranging tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) to evaluate predictions arising from Perception-action theory linking manipulative development and the onset of tool-using. Percussive actions bringing an object into contact with a surface appeared within the first year of life. Most infants readily struck nuts and other objects against stones or other surfaces from 6 months of age, but percussive actions alone were not sufficient to produce nut-cracking sequences. Placing the nut on the anvil surface and then releasing it, so that it could be struck with a stone, was the last element necessary for nut-cracking to appear in capuchins. Young chimpanzees may face a different challenge in learning to crack nuts: they readily place objects on surfaces and release them, but rarely vigorously strike objects against surfaces or other objects. Thus the challenges facing the two species in developing the same behavior (nut-cracking using a stone hammer and an anvil) may be quite different. Capuchins must inhibit a strong bias to hold nuts so that they can release them; chimpanzees must generate a percussive action rather than a gentle placing action. Generating the right actions may be as challenging as achieving the right sequence of actions in both species. Our analysis suggests a new direction for studies of social influence on young primates learning sequences of actions involving manipulation of objects in relation to surfaces.

PMID: 19046151 [PubMed - in process]

Parasites, democratization, and the liberalization of values across contemporary countries.

Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 2008 Nov 22;

Authors: Thornhill R, Fincher CL, Aran D

Abstract The countries of the world vary in their position along the autocracy-democracy continuum of values. Traditionally, scholars explain this variation as based on resource distribution and disparity among nations. We provide a different framework for understanding the autocracy-democracy dimension and related value dimensions, one that is complementary (not alternative) to the research tradition, but more encompassing, involving both evolutionary (ultimate) and proximate causation of the values. We hypothesize that the variation in values pertaining to autocracy-democracy arises fundamentally out of human (Homo sapiens) species-typical psychological adaptation that manifests contingently, producing values and associated behaviours that functioned adaptively in human evolutionary history to cope with local levels of infectious diseases. We test this parasite hypothesis of democratization using publicly available data measuring democratization, collectivism-individualism, gender egalitarianism, property rights, sexual restrictiveness, and parasite prevalence across many countries of the world. Parasite prevalence across countries is based on a validated index of the severity of 22 important human diseases. We show that, as the hypothesis predicts, collectivism (hence, conservatism), autocracy, women's subordination relative to men's status, and women's sexual restrictiveness are values that positively covary, and that correspond with high prevalence of infectious disease. Apparently, the psychology of xenophobia and ethnocentrism links these values to avoidance and management of parasites. Also as predicted, we show that the antipoles of each of the above values-individualism (hence, liberalism), democracy, and women's rights, freedom and increased participation in casual sex-are a positively covarying set of values in countries with relatively low parasite stress. Beyond the cross-national support for the parasite hypothesis of democratization, it is consistent with the geographic location at high latitudes (and hence reduced parasite stress) of the early democratic transitions in Britain, France and the U.S.A. It, too, is consistent with the marked increase in the liberalization of social values in the West in the 1950s and 1960s (in part, the sexual revolution), regions that, a generation or two earlier, experienced dramatically reduced infectious diseases as a result of antibiotics, vaccinations, food- and water-safety practices, and increased sanitation. Moreover, we hypothesize that the generation and diffusion of innovations (in thought, action and technology) within and among regions, which is associated positively with democratization, is causally related to parasite stress. Finally, we hypothesize that past selection in the context of morbidity and mortality resulting from parasitic disease crafted many of the aspects of social psychology unique to humans.

PMID: 19046399 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Behavioural environments and niche construction: the evolution of dim-light foraging in bees.

Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 2008 Nov 22;

Authors: Wcislo WT, Tierney SM

Abstract Most bees forage for floral resources during the day, but temporal patterns of foraging activity vary extensively, and foraging in dim-light environments has evolved repeatedly. Facultative dim-light foraging behaviour is known in five of nine families of bees, while obligate behaviour is known in four families and evolved independently at least 19 times. The light intensity under which bees forage varies by a factor of 10(8), and therefore the evolution of dim-light foraging represents the invasion of a new, extreme niche. The repeated evolution of dim-light foraging behaviour in bees allows tests of the hypothesis that behaviour acts as an evolutionary pacemaker. With the exception of one species of Apis, facultative dim-light foragers show no external structural traits that are thought to enable visually mediated flight behaviour in low-light environments. By contrast, most obligate dim-light foragers show a suite of convergent optical traits such as enlarged ocelli and compound eyes. In one intensively studied species (Megalopta genalis) these optical changes are associated with neurobiological changes to enhance photon capture. The available ecological evidence suggests that an escape from competition for pollen and nectar resources and avoidance of natural enemies are driving factors in the evolution of obligate dim-light foraging.

PMID: 19046401 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Probing of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae ApxIIIA toxin-dependent cytotoxicity towards mammalian peripheral blood mononucleated cells.

BMC Res Notes. 2008 Dec 1;1(1):121

Authors: Vanden Bergh PG, Zecchinon LL, Fett T, Desmecht D

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, the causative bacterial agent of porcine pleuropneumonia, produces Apx toxins which belong to RTX toxin family and are recognized as the major virulence factors. So far, their target receptor(s) has not been identified and the disease cytopathogenesis remains poorly understood. Production of an active Apx toxin and characterization of its toxic activity constitute the premises necessary to the description of its interaction with a potential receptor. From this point of view, we produced an active recombinant ApxIIIA toxin in order to characterize its toxicity on peripheral blood mononucleated cells (PBMCs) isolated from several species. FINDINGS: Toxin preparation exercises a strong cytotoxic action on porcine PBMCs which is directly related to recombinant ApxIIIA since preincubation with polymyxin B does not modify the cytotoxicity rate while preincubation with a monospecific polyclonal antiserum directed against ApxIIIA does. The cell death process triggered by ApxIIIA is extremely fast, the maximum rate of toxicity being already reached after 20 minutes of incubation. Moreover, ApxIIIA cytotoxicity is species-specific because llama, human, dog, rat and mouse PBMCs are resistant. Interestingly, bovine and caprine PBMCs are slightly sensitive to ApxIIIA toxin too. Finally, ApxIIIA cytotoxicity is cell type-specific as porcine epithelial cells are resistant. CONCLUSIONS: We have produced an active recombinant ApxIIIA toxin and characterized its specific cytotoxicity on porcine PBMCs which will allow us to get new insights on porcine pleuropneumonia pathogenesis in the future.

PMID: 19046441 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Candidate new species of kobuvirus in porcine hosts.

Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Dec;14(12):1968-70

Authors: Reuter G, Boldizsár A, Kiss I, Pankovics P

To the Editor: Picornaviruses (family Picornaviridae) are small, nonenveloped viruses with single-stranded, positive-sense genomic RNA, currently divided into 8 genera: Enterovirus, Aphthovirus, Cardiovirus, Hepatovirus, Parechovirus, Erbovirus, Teschovirus, and Kobuvirus (1). To date, the genus Kobuvirus consists of 2 species, Aichi virus and Bovine kobuvirus, each possessing 1 serotype. Aichi virus (strain A846/88) was first isolated from a stool sample obtained from a person with acute gastroenteritis in 1991 (2). Bovine kobuvirus (strain U-1) was detected in bovine sera and in feces samples from clinically healthy cattle in 2003 (3). Human and bovine kobuviruses were first isolated in Japan. Recently, kobuviruses have also been detected in humans in other countries in Asia (4), Europe (5,6), and South America (5) and in calves with diarrhea in Thailand (7). The Aichi virus and bovine kobuvirus genomes are approximately 8.2-8.3 kb, respectively, and both have a typical picornavirus genome organization, including the L protein following structural (VP0, VP3, and VP1) and nonstructural (2A-2C and 3A-3D) regions (1,3). Genetic identity between Aichi and U-1 viruses ranges from 47.7% (3 untranslated region) through 70.8% (3D region) (3). In this study, we report a new candidate species of kobuvirus. Porcine kobuvirus was serendipitously detected in fecal samples from domestic pigs in Hungary.

PMID: 19046542 [PubMed - in process]

[Candida dubliniensis: Identification methods and epidemiologic implication.]

Pathol Biol (Paris). 2008 Nov 27;

Authors: Khlif M, Sellami A, Sellami H, Makni F, Ayadi A

Candida dubliniensis was recently described (1995) associated with oral candidiasis in HIV-positive patients. This organism is very closely related to the pathogenic human yeast, Candida albicans, and share a great number of phenotypic and genotypic characters. This great similarity limits the discrimination between these two species. Several phenotypic and molecular methods were developed. The phenotypic methods are simply used in routine discrimination between these two species and depend on the growth at high temperature, sugar assimilation, growth on special mediums and chlamydospore production...; but these methods are insensitive in discrimination between these two species. The molecular biology methods are highly reliable and able to confirm rapidly the identification of this specie. In this article, we will review the various studies run out concerning the methods deployed for the identification of C. dubliniensis as well as the epidemiological implication of this new pathogen.

PMID: 19046828 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Development and evaluation of an improved diagnostic PCR for Mycoplasma synoviae using primers located in the haemagglutinin encoding gene vlhA and its value for strain typing.

Vet Microbiol. 2008 Nov 1;

Authors: Hammond PP, Ramírez AS, Morrow CJ, Bradbury JM

Using published primers, detection of Mycoplasma synoviae and strain identification using the vlhA gene sequence was attempted. However, of 21 M. synoviae strains examined, three could not be amplified, so a new reverse primer was designed with a target in the conserved region of the vlhA gene. This allowed all 21 M. synoviae strains, a further nine strains and also material from 11 swab samples from M. synoviae-positive birds, to produce a PCR product, suggesting that the method could also be suitable for clinical specimens. The protocol was then tested on the type strains of M. synoviae and the other 22 recognised avian Mycoplasma species, with amplification of M. synoviae only. Further testing demonstrated that this PCR was equally or more sensitive than other PCR tests used to detect M. synoviae. Subsequent DNA sequence analysis of the PCR product based on percent similarity and evolutionary relationship appeared to be a useful tool for strain differentiation.

PMID: 19046834 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Tyrosinase inhibitory effects of 1,3-diphenylpropanes from Broussonetia kazinoki.

Bioorg Med Chem. 2008 Nov 18;

Authors: Baek YS, Ryu YB, Curtis-Long MJ, Ha TJ, Rengasamy R, Yang MS, Park KH

Six 1,3-diphenylpropanes exhibiting inhibitory activities against both the monophenolase and diphenolase actions of tyrosinase were isolated from the methanol (95%) extract of Broussonetia kazinoki. These compounds, 1-6, were identified as kazinol C (1), D (2), F (3), broussonin C (4), kazinol S (5) and kazinol T (6). The latter two species (5 and 6) emerged to be new 1,3-diphenylpropanes which we fully spectroscopically characterized. The IC(50) values of compounds (1, 3-5) for monophenolase inhibition were determined to range between 0.43 and 17.9muM. Compounds 1 and 3-5 also inhibited diphenolase significantly with IC(50) values of 22.8, 1.7, 0.57, and 26.9muM, respectively. All four active tyrosinase inhibitors (1, 3-5) were competitive inhibitors. Interestigly they all mainfested simple reversible slow-binding inhibition against diphenolase. The most potent inhibitor, compound 4 diplayed the following kinetic parameters k(3)=0.0993muM(-1)min(-1), k(4)=0.0048min(-1), and K(i)(app)=0.0485muM.

PMID: 19046886 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

The YvrI alternative {sigma} factor is essential for acid-stress induction of oxalate decarboxylase in Bacillus subtilis.

J Bacteriol. 2008 Dec 1;

Authors: Maclellan SR, Helmann JD, Antelmann H

YvrI is a recently identified alternative sigma factor in Bacillus subtilis that requires the co-activator YvrHa to activate transcription. Previously, a strain engineered to overproduce YvrI was found to overproduce oxalate decarboxylase (OxdC) and further analysis identified three YvrI-activated promoters preceding the yvrI-yvrHa, yvrJ, and oxdC-yvrL operons. Independently, proteome analyses identified OxdC as a highly abundant, cell wall-associated protein that accumulated under acidic growth conditions. We show here that accumulation of OxdC in the cell wall proteome under acidic growth conditions is absolutely dependent on YvrI and is correlated with enhanced transcription of both the yvrI-yvrHa and oxdC-yvrL operons. Conversely, OxdC accumulates to high level even under non-acidic growth conditions in cells lacking YvrL, a negative regulator of YvrI/YvrHa-dependent transcription. These results indicate that YvrI and its associated co-regulators YvrHa and YvrL are required for the regulation of OxdC expression by acid stress. The high level accumulation of OxdC depends, in part, on the strong oxdC promoter. A regulatory sequence with similarity to an UP element was identified upstream of the oxdC promoter and is required for high level promoter activity. Conservation of the YvrI/YvrHa/YvrL-regulatory system amongst related species allowed for the deduction of an expanded consensus sequence for the compositionally unusual promoters recognized by this new sigma factor.

PMID: 19047353 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Host immune response and acute disease in a zebrafish model of Francisella pathogenesis.

Infect Immun. 2008 Dec 1;

Authors: Vojtech LN, Sanders GE, Conway C, Ostland V, Hansen JD

Members of the bacterial genus Francisella are highly virulent and infectious pathogens. New models to study Francisella pathogenesis in evolutionarily distinct species are needed to provide comparative insight as the mechanisms of host resistance and pathogen virulence are not well understood. We took advantage of the recent discovery of a novel fish-specific species of Francisella to establish a zebrafish/Francisella comparative model of pathogenesis and host immune response. Adult zebrafish were susceptible to acute Francisella-induced disease and suffered mortality in a dose-dependent manner. Using immunohistochemical analysis, we localized bacterial antigens primarily to lymphoid tissues and the liver of zebrafish following infection by intraperitoneal injection, which corresponded to regions of local cellular necrosis. Francisella sp. replicated rapidly in these tissues beginning 12 hrs post-infection and bacterial titers rose steadily, leveled off, and then decreased by 7 days post-infection. Zebrafish mounted a significant tissue-specific pro-inflammatory response to infection as measured by the upregulation of IL-1beta, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha mRNA beginning by 6 hrs post-infection and persisting for up to 7 days post-infection. In addition, exposure of zebrafish to heat killed bacteria demonstrated that the significant induction of IL-1beta was highly specific to live bacteria. Taken together, the pathology and immune response to acute Francisella infection in zebrafish shares many features with that in mammals, highlighting the usefulness of this new model system for addressing both general and specific questions about Francisella host-pathogen interactions via an evolutionary approach.

PMID: 19047404 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Evaluation of the LightCycler(R) SeptiFast test in the rapid etiologic diagnostic of infectious endocarditis.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2008 Dec 2;

Authors: Casalta JP, Gouriet F, Roux V, Thuny F, Habib G, Raoult D

The SeptiFast test (Roche Diagnostics) is a new commercial molecular technique that has emerged for the detection of bacteria in blood. We compared in this study the sensitivity of blood culture to a commercially available broad-range real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection in blood of 19 bacterial species and six fungal species (SeptiFast test, Roche Diagnostics) in 63 patients with infectious endocarditis (IE). The SeptiFast test is not more sensitive for organisms such as Streptococci, Enterococci, and Staphylococcus aureus (11/29 versus 12/29 for blood culture). It has detected less commonly coagulase-negative Staphylococci (0/15 versus 3/15, P = 0.2) and significantly fewer other microorganisms (0/6 versus 4/6, P = 0.03). However, bacteria were detected from three IE treated by antibiotics, with blood culture negative on admission. The SeptiFast test may be useful in cases of IE in patients treated with antibiotics before admission.

PMID: 19048317 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Selective Control of the Prorocentrum minimum Harmful Algal Blooms by a Novel Algal-Lytic Bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis AFMB-008041.

Mar Biotechnol (NY). 2008 Dec 2;

Authors: Kim JD, Kim JY, Park JK, Lee CG

In this study, we examined the algal-lytic activities and biological control mechanisms of Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis AFMB-08041, which was isolated from surface seawater obtained at Masan Bay in Korea. In addition, we assessed whether AFMB-08041 could be used as a biocontrol agent to regulate harmful dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum. From these experiments, we found that the inoculation of AFMB-08041 at a final density of 2.5 x 10(4) cfu ml(-1) caused P. minimum cells to degrade (>90%) within 5 days. The algal cells were lysed through an indirect attack by the AFMB-08041 bacterial strain. Our results also suggest that the algal-lytic compounds produced by AFMB-08041 may have beta-glucosidase activity. However, P. haloplanktis AFMB-08041 was not able to suppress the growth of other alga such as Alexandrium tamarense, Akashiwo sanguinea, Cochlodinium polykrikoides, Gymnodinium catenatum, and Heterosigma akashiwo. Moreover, we observed that the growth of Prorocentrum dentatum, which has a very similar morphological structure to P. minimum, was also effectively suppressed by P. haloplanktis AFMB-08041. Therefore, the effect of AFMB-08041 on P. minimum degradation appears to be species specific. When testing in an indoor mesocosms, P. haloplanktis AFMB-08041 reduced the amount of viable P. minimum cells by 94.5% within 5 days after inoculation. The combined results of this study clearly demonstrate that this bacterium is capable of regulating the harmful algal blooms of P. minimum. In addition, these results will enable us to develop a new strategy for the anthropogenic control of harmful algal bloom-forming species in nature.

PMID: 19048341 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Assessing genetic variability in bat species of Emballonuridae, Phyllostomidae, Vespertilionidae and Molossidae families (Chiroptera) by RFLP-PCR.

Genet Mol Res. 2008;7(4):1164-78

Authors: Marchesin SR, Beguelini MR, Faria KC, Moreira PR, Morielle-Versute E

A PCR-RFLP analysis of the restriction pattern in nuclear (RAG2) and mitochondrial (12S/16S) gene sequences of bat species from the Molossidae, Phyllostomidae, Vespertilionidae, and Emballonuridae families produced a large number of fragments: 107 for RAG2 and 155 for 12S/16S combined in 139 and 402 haplotypes, respectively. The values detected for gene variation were low for both sequences (0.13 for RAG2 and 0.15 for 12S/16S) and reflected their conservative feature, reinforced by high values of inter- and intraspecies genetic identity (70-100%). The species with a high gene divergence were variable in the analyses of RAG2 (Eumops perotis, Artibeus lituratus, and Carollia perspicillata) and of 12S/16S (Nyctinomops laticaudatus, C. perspicillata, and Cynomops abrasus), and furthermore, one of them, C. perspicillata, also showed the highest intraspecific variation. The species that exhibited the lowest variation for both genes was Molossus rufus. In the families, the highest variation was observed in the Molossidae and this can be attributed to variation exhibited by Eumops and Nyctinomops species. The variations observed were interpreted as a natural variability within the species and genus that exhibited a conserved pattern in the two gene sequences in different species and family analyzed. Our data reinforce the idea that the analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear genes contribute to our knowledge of the diversity of New World bats. The genetic variability found in different taxa suggests that an additional diversity, unnoticed by other methods, can be revealed with the use of different molecular strategies.

PMID: 19048495 [PubMed - in process]

Transferability of SSR markers from related Uredinales species to the coffee rust Hemileia vastatrix.

Genet Mol Res. 2008;7(4):1186-92

Authors: Cristancho M, Escobar C

The aim of the present research was to test the transferability of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers developed in two Uredinales species to Hemileia vastatrix, coffee rust. The development of efficient techniques for the identification of H. vastatrix isolates is imperative, given the continuous development of new races. The transferability of 25 SSR markers developed in the related Uredinales species Puccinia coronata f. sp lolli and Melampsora linii to H. vastatrix was tested. A low level of transferability of SSRs was detected, and only 4 potential markers that can be used to fingerprint the coffee rust races were identi