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Flury JM, Meusemann K, Martin S, Hilgers L, Spanke T, Böhne A, Herder F, Mokodongan DF, Altmüller J, Wowor D, Misof B, Nolte AW, Schwarzer J. Potential Contribution of Ancient Introgression to the Evolution of a Derived Reproductive Strategy in Ricefishes. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:evad138. [PMID: 37493080 PMCID: PMC10465105 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Transitions from no parental care to extensive care are costly and involve major changes in life history, behavior, and morphology. Nevertheless, in Sulawesi ricefishes, pelvic brooding evolved from transfer brooding in two distantly related lineages within the genera Adrianichthys and Oryzias, respectively. Females of pelvic brooding species carry their eggs attached to their belly until the fry hatches. Despite their phylogenetic distance, both pelvic brooding lineages share a set of external morphological traits. A recent study found no direct gene flow between pelvic brooding lineages, suggesting independent evolution of the derived reproductive strategy. Convergent evolution can, however, also rely on repeated sorting of preexisting variation of an admixed ancestral population, especially when subjected to similar external selection pressures. We thus used a multispecies coalescent model and D-statistics to identify gene-tree-species-tree incongruencies, to evaluate the evolution of pelvic brooding with respect to interspecific gene flow not only between pelvic brooding lineages but also between pelvic brooding lineages and other Sulawesi ricefish lineages. We found a general network-like evolution in Sulawesi ricefishes, and as previously reported, we detected no gene flow between the pelvic brooding lineages. Instead, we found hybridization between the ancestor of pelvic brooding Oryzias and the common ancestor of the Oryzias species from the Lake Poso area. We further detected signs of introgression within the confidence interval of a quantitative trait locus associated with pelvic brooding in O. eversi. Our results hint toward a contribution of ancient standing genetic variation to the evolution of pelvic brooding in Oryzias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana M Flury
- Leibniz-Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Museum Koenig Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Karen Meusemann
- Leibniz-Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Museum Koenig Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sebastian Martin
- Leibniz-Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Museum Koenig Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Leon Hilgers
- Leibniz-Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Museum Koenig Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tobias Spanke
- Leibniz-Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Museum Koenig Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Astrid Böhne
- Leibniz-Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Museum Koenig Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Fabian Herder
- Leibniz-Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Museum Koenig Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Daniel F Mokodongan
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Center for Biosystematics and Evolution, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Janine Altmüller
- Cologne Center for Genomics (CCG), Cologne University, Cologne, Germany
| | - Daisy Wowor
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Center for Biosystematics and Evolution, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Bernhard Misof
- Leibniz-Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Museum Koenig Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Arne W Nolte
- Department of Ecological Genomics, Carl von Ossietzky Universität, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Julia Schwarzer
- Leibniz-Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Museum Koenig Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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2
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Zhang B, Xiao W, Qin G, Chen Z, Qiu L, Wang X, Lin Q. Gene loss and co-option of toll-like receptors facilitate paternal immunological adaptation in the brood pouch of pregnant male seahorses. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1224698. [PMID: 37588592 PMCID: PMC10426278 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1224698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Male pregnancy in syngnathids (seahorses, pipefishes, and sea dragons) is an evolutionary innovation in the animal kingdom. Paternal immune resistance to the fetus is a critical challenge, particularly in seahorses with fully enclosed brood pouches and sophisticated placentas. In this study, comparative genomic analysis revealed that all syngnathid species lost three vertebrate-conserved Toll-like receptors (TLR1, TLR2, and TLR9), of which all play essential roles in immune protection and immune tolerance in the uterus and placenta. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that the TLR paralog genes including TLR18, TLR25, and TLR21 were highly expressed in the placenta inside the seahorse brood pouch and changed dynamically during the breeding cycle, suggesting the potentially important role of the TLRs during male pregnancy. Furthermore, the immune challenge test in vitro showed a remarkable expression response from all three TLR genes to specific pathogenic antigens, confirming their immune function in seahorse brood pouches. Notably, the altered antigen recognition spectrum of these genes appeared to functionally compensate in part for the lost TLRs, in contrast to that observed in other species. Therefore, we suggest that gene loss and co-option of TLRs may be a typical evolutionary strategy for facilitating paternal immunological adaptation during male pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wanghong Xiao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya, China
| | - Geng Qin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya, China
| | - Zelin Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lihua Qiu
- Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiang Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
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3
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Parker J, Dubin A, Schneider R, Wagner KS, Jentoft S, Böhne A, Bayer T, Roth O. Immunological tolerance in the evolution of male pregnancy. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:819-840. [PMID: 34951070 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The unique male pregnancy in pipefishes and seahorses ranges from basic attachment (pouch-less species: Nerophinae) of maternal eggs to specialized internal gestation in pouched species (e.g. Syngnathus and Hippocampus) with many transitions in between. Due to this diversity, male pregnancy offers a unique platform for assessing physiological and molecular adaptations in pregnancy evolution. These insights will contribute to answering long-standing questions of why and how pregnancy evolved convergently in so many vertebrate systems. To understand the molecular congruencies and disparities in male pregnancy evolution, we compared transcriptome-wide differentially expressed genes in four syngnathid species, at four pregnancy stages (nonpregnant, early, late and parturition). Across all species and pregnancy forms, metabolic processes and immune dynamics defined pregnancy stages, especially pouched species shared expression features akin to female pregnancy. The observed downregulation of adaptive immune genes in early-stage pregnancy and its reversed upregulation during late/parturition in pouched species, most notably in Hippocampus, combined with directionless expression in the pouch-less species, suggests immune modulation to be restricted to pouched species that evolved placenta-like systems. We propose that increased foeto-paternal intimacy in pouched syngnathids commands immune suppression processes in early gestation, and that the elevated immune response during parturition coincides with pouch opening and reduced progeny reliance. Immune response regulation in pouched species supports the recently described functional MHC II pathway loss as critical in male pregnancy evolution. The independent co-option of similar genes and pathways both in male and female pregnancy highlights immune modulation as crucial for the evolutionary establishment of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Parker
- Marine Evolutionary Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Arseny Dubin
- Marine Evolutionary Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Ralf Schneider
- Marine Evolutionary Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Kim Sara Wagner
- Marine Evolutionary Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sissel Jentoft
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Astrid Böhne
- Center for Molecular Biodiversity Research, Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany
| | - Till Bayer
- Marine Evolutionary Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Olivia Roth
- Marine Evolutionary Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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Liu Y, Qu M, Jiang H, Schneider R, Qin G, Luo W, Yu H, Zhang B, Wang X, Zhang Y, Zhang H, Zhang Z, Wu Y, Zhang Y, Yin J, Zhang S, Venkatesh B, Roth O, Meyer A, Lin Q. Immunogenetic losses co-occurred with seahorse male pregnancy and mutation in tlx1 accompanied functional asplenia. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7610. [PMID: 36494371 PMCID: PMC9734139 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35338-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the highly derived syngnathid fishes (pipefishes, seadragons & seahorses), the evolution of sex-role reversed brooding behavior culminated in the seahorse lineage's male pregnancy, whose males feature a specialized brood pouch into which females deposit eggs during mating. Then, eggs are intimately engulfed by a placenta-like tissue that facilitates gas and nutrient exchange. As fathers immunologically tolerate allogenic embryos, it was suggested that male pregnancy co-evolved with specific immunological adaptations. Indeed, here we show that a specific amino-acid replacement in the tlx1 transcription factor is associated with seahorses' asplenia (loss of spleen, an organ central in the immune system), as confirmed by a CRISPR-Cas9 experiment using zebrafish. Comparative genomics across the syngnathid phylogeny revealed that the complexity of the immune system gene repertoire decreases as parental care intensity increases. The synchronous evolution of immunogenetic alterations and male pregnancy supports the notion that male pregnancy co-evolved with the immunological tolerance of the embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yali Liu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301 PR China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
| | - Meng Qu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301 PR China
| | - Han Jiang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
| | - Ralf Schneider
- grid.9764.c0000 0001 2153 9986Marine Evolutionary Ecology, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Geng Qin
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301 PR China
| | - Wei Luo
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China
| | - Haiyan Yu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Wang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301 PR China
| | - Yanhong Zhang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301 PR China
| | - Huixian Zhang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301 PR China
| | - Zhixin Zhang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China ,grid.412785.d0000 0001 0695 6482Graduate School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Minato, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yongli Wu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingyi Zhang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
| | - Jianping Yin
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301 PR China
| | - Si Zhang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301 PR China
| | - Byrappa Venkatesh
- grid.418812.60000 0004 0620 9243Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, 138673 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Olivia Roth
- grid.9764.c0000 0001 2153 9986Marine Evolutionary Ecology, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Axel Meyer
- grid.9811.10000 0001 0658 7699Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Qiang Lin
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510301 Guangzhou, China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301 PR China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
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5
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Conley AJ, Loux SC, Legacki EL, Stoops MA, Pukazhenthi B, Brown JL, Sattler R, French HM, Tibary A, Robeck TR. The steroid metabolome of pregnancy, insights into the maintenance of pregnancy and evolution of reproductive traits. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 528:111241. [PMID: 33711335 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Modes of mammalian reproduction are diverse and not always conserved among related species. Progesterone is universally required to supports pregnancy but sites of synthesis and metabolic pathways vary widely. The steroid metabolome of mid-to late gestation was characterized, focusing on 5α-reduced pregnanes in species representing the Perissodactyla, Cetartiodactyla and Carnivora using mass spectrometry. Metabolomes and steroidogenic enzyme ortholog sequences were used in heirarchial analyses. Steroid metabolite profiles were similar within orders, whales within cetartiodactyls for instance, but with notable exceptions such as rhinoceros clustering with goats, and tapirs with pigs. Steroidogenic enzyme sequence clustering reflected expected evolutionary relationships but once again with exceptions. Human sequences (expected outgroups) clustered with perissodactyl CYP11A1, CYP17A1 and SRD5A1 gene orthologues, forming outgroups only for HSD17B1 and SRD5A2. Spotted hyena CYP19A1 clustered within the Perissodactyla, between rhinoceros and equid orthologues, whereas CYP17A1 clustered within the Carnivora. This variability highlights the random adoption of divergent physiological strategies as pregnancy evolved among genetically similar species.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Conley
- Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - S C Loux
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - E L Legacki
- Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA; Hollings Marine Laboratory, National Institute of Standards & Technology, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - M A Stoops
- Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - B Pukazhenthi
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA
| | - J L Brown
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA
| | - R Sattler
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Palmer, AK, USA
| | - H M French
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, St. Kitts, West Indies
| | - A Tibary
- Comparative Theriogenology, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - T R Robeck
- Zoological Operations, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Orlando, FL, USA
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6
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Nuño de la Rosa L, Pavličev M, Etxeberria A. Pregnant Females as Historical Individuals: An Insight From the Philosophy of Evo-Devo. Front Psychol 2021; 11:572106. [PMID: 33551898 PMCID: PMC7854466 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.572106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Criticisms of the "container" model of pregnancy picturing female and embryo as separate entities multiply in various philosophical and scientific contexts during the last decades. In this paper, we examine how this model underlies received views of pregnancy in evolutionary biology, in the characterization of the transition from oviparity to viviparity in mammals and in the selectionist explanations of pregnancy as an evolutionary strategy. In contrast, recent evo-devo studies on eutherian reproduction, including the role of inflammation and new maternal cell types, gather evidence in favor of considering pregnancy as an evolved relational novelty. Our thesis is that from this perspective we can identify the emergence of a new historical individual in evolution. In evo-devo, historical units are conceptualized as evolved entities which fulfill two main criteria, their continuous persistence and their non-exchangeability. As pregnancy can be individuated in this way, we contend that pregnant females are historical individuals. We argue that historical individuality differs from, and coexists with, other views of biological individuality as applied to pregnancy (the physiological, the evolutionary and the ecological one), but brings forward an important new insight which might help dissolve misguided conceptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Nuño de la Rosa
- Department of Logic and Theoretical Philosophy, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mihaela Pavličev
- Department of Theoretical Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Arantza Etxeberria
- Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science, IAS Research Center for Life, Mind, and Society, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
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7
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Rokas A, Mesiano S, Tamam O, LaBella A, Zhang G, Muglia L. Developing a theoretical evolutionary framework to solve the mystery of parturition initiation. eLife 2020; 9:e58343. [PMID: 33380346 PMCID: PMC7775106 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Eutherian mammals have characteristic lengths of gestation that are key for reproductive success, but relatively little is known about the processes that determine the timing of parturition, the process of birth, and how they are coordinated with fetal developmental programs. This issue remains one of biology's great unsolved mysteries and has significant clinical relevance because preterm birth is the leading cause of infant and under 5 year old child mortality worldwide. Here, we consider the evolutionary influences and potential signaling mechanisms that maintain or end pregnancy in eutherian mammals and use this knowledge to formulate general theoretical evolutionary models. These models can be tested through evolutionary species comparisons, studies of experimental manipulation of gestation period and birth timing, and human clinical studies. Understanding how gestation time and parturition are determined will shed light on this fundamental biological process and improve human health through the development of therapies to prevent preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
| | - Sam Mesiano
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve University and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, United States
| | - Ortal Tamam
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Abigail LaBella
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
| | - Ge Zhang
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics. University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, United States
| | - Louis Muglia
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics. University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, United States
- Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Research Triangle Park, Durham, United States
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8
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Origin and function of the yolk sac in primate embryogenesis. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3760. [PMID: 32724077 PMCID: PMC7387521 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17575-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human embryogenesis is hallmarked by two phases of yolk sac development. The primate hypoblast gives rise to a transient primary yolk sac, which is rapidly superseded by a secondary yolk sac during gastrulation. Moreover, primate embryos form extraembryonic mesoderm prior to gastrulation, in contrast to mouse. The function of the primary yolk sac and the origin of extraembryonic mesoderm remain unclear. Here, we hypothesise that the hypoblast-derived primary yolk sac serves as a source for early extraembryonic mesoderm, which is supplemented with mesoderm from the gastrulating embryo. We discuss the intricate relationship between the yolk sac and the primate embryo and highlight the pivotal role of the yolk sac as a multifunctional hub for haematopoiesis, germ cell development and nutritional supply.
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9
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Watson DG, Pomeroy PP, Al-Tannak NF, Kennedy MW. Stockpiling by pups and self-sacrifice by their fasting mothers observed in birth to weaning serum metabolomes of Atlantic grey seals. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7465. [PMID: 32366923 PMCID: PMC7198541 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64488-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
During the uniquely short lactations of true seals, pups acquire a greater proportion of maternal body resources, at a greater rate, than in any other group of mammals. Mothers in many species enter a period of anorexia but must preserve sufficient reserves to fuel hunting and thermoregulation for return to cold seas. Moreover, pups may undergo a period of development after weaning during which they have no maternal care or nutrition. This nutritionally closed system presents a potentially extreme case of conflict between maternal survival and adequate provisioning of offspring, likely presenting strains on their metabolisms. We examined the serum metabolomes of five mother and pup pairs of Atlantic grey seals, Halichoerus grypus, from birth to weaning. Changes with time were particularly evident in pups, with indications of strain in the fat and energy metabolisms of both. Crucially, pups accumulate certain compounds to levels that are dramatically greater than in mothers. These include compounds that pups cannot synthesise themselves, such as pyridoxine/vitamin B6, taurine, some essential amino acids, and a conditionally essential amino acid and its precursor. Fasting mothers therefore appear to mediate stockpiling of critical metabolites in their pups, potentially depleting their own reserves and prompting cessation of lactation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Watson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0RE, Scotland, UK.
| | - Patrick P Pomeroy
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Naser F Al-Tannak
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0RE, Scotland, UK.,Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 23924, Safat, 13110, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Malcolm W Kennedy
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK.
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10
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Xu X, Li G, Li C, Zhang J, Wang Q, Simmons DK, Chen X, Wijesena N, Zhu W, Wang Z, Wang Z, Ju B, Ci W, Lu X, Yu D, Wang QF, Aluru N, Oliveri P, Zhang YE, Martindale MQ, Liu J. Evolutionary transition between invertebrates and vertebrates via methylation reprogramming in embryogenesis. Natl Sci Rev 2019; 6:993-1003. [PMID: 34691960 PMCID: PMC8291442 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwz064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Major evolutionary transitions are enigmas, and the most notable enigma is between invertebrates and vertebrates, with numerous spectacular innovations. To search for the molecular connections involved, we asked whether global epigenetic changes may offer a clue by surveying the inheritance and reprogramming of parental DNA methylation across metazoans. We focused on gametes and early embryos, where the methylomes are known to evolve divergently between fish and mammals. Here, we find that methylome reprogramming during embryogenesis occurs neither in pre-bilaterians such as cnidarians nor in protostomes such as insects, but clearly presents in deuterostomes such as echinoderms and invertebrate chordates, and then becomes more evident in vertebrates. Functional association analysis suggests that DNA methylation reprogramming is associated with development, reproduction and adaptive immunity for vertebrates, but not for invertebrates. Interestingly, the single HOX cluster of invertebrates maintains unmethylated status in all stages examined. In contrast, the multiple HOX clusters show dramatic dynamics of DNA methylation during vertebrate embryogenesis. Notably, the methylation dynamics of HOX clusters are associated with their spatiotemporal expression in mammals. Our study reveals that DNA methylation reprogramming has evolved dramatically during animal evolution, especially after the evolutionary transitions from invertebrates to vertebrates, and then to mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaocui Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Guoqiang Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Congru Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Institute of Apiculture Research, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - David K Simmons
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, FL 32080, USA
| | - Xuepeng Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Naveen Wijesena
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, FL 32080, USA
| | - Wei Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Zhanyang Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Yantai University, Yantai 265600, China
| | - Zhenhua Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Yantai University, Yantai 265600, China
| | - Bao Ju
- College of Life Sciences, Yantai University, Yantai 265600, China
| | - Weimin Ci
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomics and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xuemei Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomics and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Daqi Yu
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Qian-fei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomics and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | | | - Paola Oliveri
- Departments of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, and Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Yong E Zhang
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Mark Q Martindale
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, FL 32080, USA
| | - Jiang Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
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11
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Abstract
Patrick Abbot & Antonis Rokas introduce the biology of pregnancy in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Abbot
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B #351634, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B #351634, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
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12
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Animal and Human Tissue Models of Vertical Listeria monocytogenes Transmission and Implications for Other Pregnancy-Associated Infections. Infect Immun 2018; 86:IAI.00801-17. [PMID: 29483290 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00801-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrauterine infections lead to serious complications for mother and fetus, including preterm birth, maternal and fetal death, and neurological sequelae in the surviving offspring. Improving maternal and child heath is a global priority. Yet, the development of strategies to prevent and treat pregnancy-related diseases has lagged behind progress made in other medical fields. One of the challenges is finding tractable model systems that replicate the human maternal-fetal interface. Animal models offer the ability to study pathogenesis and host defenses in vivo However, the anatomy of the maternal-fetal interface is highly divergent across species. While many tools are available to study host responses in the pregnant mouse model, other animals have placentas that are more similar to that of humans. Here we describe new developments in animal and human tissue models to investigate the pathogenesis of listeriosis at the maternal-fetal interface. We highlight gaps in existing knowledge and make recommendations on how they can be filled.
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13
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Origin of origami cockroach reveals long-lasting (11 Ma) phenotype instability following viviparity. Naturwissenschaften 2016; 103:78. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-016-1398-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Revised: 08/14/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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