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Langleib M, Calvelo J, Costábile A, Castillo E, Tort JF, Hoffmann FG, Protasio AV, Koziol U, Iriarte A. Evolutionary analysis of species-specific duplications in flatworm genomes. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2024; 199:108141. [PMID: 38964593 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108141] [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: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Platyhelminthes, also known as flatworms, is a phylum of bilaterian invertebrates infamous for their parasitic representatives. The classes Cestoda, Monogenea, and Trematoda comprise parasitic helminths inhabiting multiple hosts, including fishes, humans, and livestock, and are responsible for considerable economic damage and burden on human health. As in other animals, the genomes of flatworms have a wide variety of paralogs, genes related via duplication, whose origins could be mapped throughout the evolution of the phylum. Through in-silico analysis, we studied inparalogs, i.e., species-specific duplications, focusing on their biological functions, expression changes, and evolutionary rate. These genes are thought to be key players in the adaptation process of species to each particular niche. Our results showed that genes related with specific functional terms, such as response to stress, transferase activity, oxidoreductase activity, and peptidases, are overrepresented among inparalogs. This trend is conserved among species from different classes, including free-living species. Available expression data from Schistosoma mansoni, a parasite from the trematode class, demonstrated high conservation of expression patterns between inparalogs, but with notable exceptions, which also display evidence of rapid evolution. We discuss how natural selection may operate to maintain these genes and the particular duplication models that fit better to the observations. Our work supports the critical role of gene duplication in the evolution of flatworms, representing the first study of inparalogs evolution at the genome-wide level in this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Langleib
- Laboratorio de Biología Computacional, Departamento de Desarrollo Biotecnológico, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Javier Calvelo
- Laboratorio de Biología Computacional, Departamento de Desarrollo Biotecnológico, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Alicia Costábile
- Sección Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Estela Castillo
- Laboratorio de Biología Parasitaria, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - José F Tort
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Federico G Hoffmann
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi, United States of America; Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Anna V Protasio
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, CB2 1QP, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Uriel Koziol
- Sección Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Andrés Iriarte
- Laboratorio de Biología Computacional, Departamento de Desarrollo Biotecnológico, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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2
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Sundaram MV, Pujol N. The Caenorhabditis elegans cuticle and precuticle: a model for studying dynamic apical extracellular matrices in vivo. Genetics 2024; 227:iyae072. [PMID: 38995735 PMCID: PMC11304992 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Apical extracellular matrices (aECMs) coat the exposed surfaces of animal bodies to shape tissues, influence social interactions, and protect against pathogens and other environmental challenges. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, collagenous cuticle and zona pellucida protein-rich precuticle aECMs alternately coat external epithelia across the molt cycle and play many important roles in the worm's development, behavior, and physiology. Both these types of aECMs contain many matrix proteins related to those in vertebrates, as well as some that are nematode-specific. Extensive differences observed among tissues and life stages demonstrate that aECMs are a major feature of epithelial cell identity. In addition to forming discrete layers, some cuticle components assemble into complex substructures such as ridges, furrows, and nanoscale pillars. The epidermis and cuticle are mechanically linked, allowing the epidermis to sense cuticle damage and induce protective innate immune and stress responses. The C. elegans model, with its optical transparency, facilitates the study of aECM cell biology and structure/function relationships and all the myriad ways by which aECM can influence an organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meera V Sundaram
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Nathalie Pujol
- Aix Marseille University, INSERM, CNRS, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, 13009 Marseille, France
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Yi Q, Xi Y, Li J, Wu Z, Ma Y, Jiang Y, Yang D, Huang S. The interaction between 20-hydroxyecdysone and AMPK through PI3K activation in Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 157:105194. [PMID: 38754572 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2024.105194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
In crustaceans, the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) initiates molting, and the molting process is also regulated by energy metabolism. AMPK is an energy sensor and plays a critical role in systemic energy balance. Here, the regulatory mechanism in the interaction between 20E and AMPK was investigated in Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis. The results showed that the 20E concentration and the mRNA expression levels of 20E receptors in hepatopancreas were down-regulated post AMPK activator (AICAR) treatment, and were up-regulated after AMPK inhibitor (Compound C) injection in crabs. Besides, the molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH) gene expression in eyestalk showed the opposite patterns in response to the AICAR and Compound C treatment, respectively. Further investigation found that there was a significant reduction in 20E concentration post PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) treatment, and the phosphorylation level of PI3K was increased in hepatopancreas after AMPK inhibitor injection. On the other hand, the positive regulation of PI3K-mediated activation of AMPK was also observed, the phosphorylation levels of AMPKα, AMPKβ and PI3K in hepatopancreas were significantly increased post 20E injection. In addition, the phosphorylation levels of AMPKα and AMPKβ induced by 20E were decreased after the injection of PI3K inhibitor. Taken together, these results suggest that the regulatory cross-talk between 20E and AMPK is likely to act through PI3K pathway in E. sinensis, which appeared to be helpful for a better understanding in molting regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qilin Yi
- College of Aquaculture and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 11026, China
| | - Yuting Xi
- College of Aquaculture and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 11026, China
| | - Jialin Li
- College of Aquaculture and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 11026, China
| | - Zihao Wu
- College of Aquaculture and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 11026, China
| | - Yuhan Ma
- College of Aquaculture and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 11026, China
| | - Yusheng Jiang
- College of Aquaculture and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 11026, China; Dalian Key Laboratory of Breeding, Reproduction and Aquaculture of Crustaceans, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Dazuo Yang
- College of Aquaculture and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 11026, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Bio-Resources Restoration and Habitat Reparation in Liaoning Province, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Shu Huang
- College of Aquaculture and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 11026, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Bio-Resources Restoration and Habitat Reparation in Liaoning Province, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Dalian Key Laboratory of Breeding, Reproduction and Aquaculture of Crustaceans, Dalian, 116023, China.
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Chen Q, Deng M, Dai X, Wang W, Wang X, Chen LS, Huang GH. Phylogenomic data exploration with increased sampling provides new insights into the higher-level relationships of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2024; 197:108113. [PMID: 38796071 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108113] [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: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
A robust and stable phylogenetic framework is a fundamental goal of evolutionary biology. As the third largest insect order in the world following Coleoptera and Diptera, Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) play a central role in almost every terrestrial ecosystem as indicators of environmental change and serve as important models for biologists exploring questions related to ecology and evolutionary biology. However, for such a charismatic insect group, the higher-level phylogenetic relationships among its superfamilies are still poorly resolved. Compared to earlier phylogenomic studies, we increased taxon sampling among Lepidoptera (37 superfamilies and 68 families containing 263 taxa) and acquired a series of large amino-acid datasets from 69,680 to 400,330 for phylogenomic reconstructions. Using these datasets, we explored the effect of different taxon sampling with significant increases in the number of included genes on tree topology by considering a series of systematic errors using maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. Moreover, we also tested the effectiveness in topology robustness among the three ML-based models. The results showed that taxon sampling is an important determinant in tree robustness of accurate lepidopteran phylogenetic estimation. Long-branch attraction (LBA) caused by site-wise heterogeneity is a significant source of bias giving rise to unstable positions of ditrysian groups in phylogenomic reconstruction. Phylogenetic inference showed the most comprehensive framework to reveal the relationships among lepidopteran superfamilies, and presented some newly relationships with strong supports (Papilionoidea was sister to Gelechioidea and Immoidea was sister to Galacticoidea, respectively), but limited by taxon sampling, the relationships within the species-rich and relatively rapid radiation Ditrysia and especially Apoditrysia remain poorly resolved, which need to increase taxon sampling for further phylogenomic reconstruction. The present study demonstrates that taxon sampling is an important determinant for an accurate lepidopteran tree of life and provides some essential insights for future lepidopteran phylogenomic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Chen
- Yuelushan Laboratory, College of Plant Protection, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, Hunan, China; Tropical Biodiversity and Bioresource Utilization Laboratory, College of Science, Qiongtai Normal University, Haikou 571127, Hainan, China
| | - Min Deng
- Yuelushan Laboratory, College of Plant Protection, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, Hunan, China; Qiannan Polytechnic for Nationality, Duyun 558022, Guizhou, China
| | - Xuan Dai
- Yuelushan Laboratory, College of Plant Protection, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, Hunan, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Research Center for Wild Animal and Plant Resource Protection and Utilization, Qiongtai Normal University, Haikou 571127, Hainan, China
| | - Xing Wang
- Yuelushan Laboratory, College of Plant Protection, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, Hunan, China; Tropical Biodiversity and Bioresource Utilization Laboratory, College of Science, Qiongtai Normal University, Haikou 571127, Hainan, China.
| | - Liu-Sheng Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Silviculture, Protection and Utilization, Guangdong Academy of Forestry, Guangzhou 510520, Guangdong, China.
| | - Guo-Hua Huang
- Yuelushan Laboratory, College of Plant Protection, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, Hunan, China.
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Wang D, Qiang Y, Guo J, Vannier J, Song Z, Peng J, Zhang B, Sun J, Yu Y, Zhang Y, Zhang T, Yang X, Han J. Early evolution of the ecdysozoan body plan. eLife 2024; 13:RP94709. [PMID: 38976315 PMCID: PMC11231812 DOI: 10.7554/elife.94709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Extant ecdysozoans (moulting animals) are represented by a great variety of soft-bodied or articulated organisms that may or may not have appendages. However, controversies remain about the vermiform nature (i.e. elongated and tubular) of their ancestral body plan. We describe here Beretella spinosa gen. et sp. nov. a tiny (maximal length 3 mm) ecdysozoan from the lowermost Cambrian, Yanjiahe Formation, South China, characterized by an unusual sack-like appearance, single opening, and spiny ornament. Beretella spinosa gen. et sp. nov has no equivalent among animals, except Saccorhytus coronarius, also from the basal Cambrian. Phylogenetic analyses resolve both fossil species as a sister group (Saccorhytida) to all known Ecdysozoa, thus suggesting that ancestral ecdysozoans may have been non-vermiform animals. Saccorhytids are likely to represent an early off-shot along the stem-line Ecdysozoa. Although it became extinct during the Cambrian, this animal lineage provides precious insight into the early evolution of Ecdysozoa and the nature of the earliest representatives of the group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Early Life & Environments and Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yaqin Qiang
- School of Earth Science and Resources, Key Laboratory of Western China's Mineral Resources and Geological Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chang'an University, Xi'an, China
| | - Junfeng Guo
- School of Earth Science and Resources, Key Laboratory of Western China's Mineral Resources and Geological Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chang'an University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jean Vannier
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, ENS de Lyon, CNRS, Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon: Terre, Planètes, Environnement (CNRS-UMR 5276), Villeurbanne, France
| | - Zuchen Song
- School of Earth Science and Resources, Key Laboratory of Western China's Mineral Resources and Geological Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chang'an University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiaxin Peng
- School of Earth Science and Resources, Key Laboratory of Western China's Mineral Resources and Geological Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chang'an University, Xi'an, China
| | - Boyao Zhang
- School of Earth Science and Resources, Key Laboratory of Western China's Mineral Resources and Geological Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chang'an University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jie Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Early Life & Environments and Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
- School of Earth Science and Resources, Key Laboratory of Western China's Mineral Resources and Geological Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chang'an University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yilun Yu
- Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yiheng Zhang
- School of Information Science and Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- School of Information Science and Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaoguang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Early Life & Environments and Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jian Han
- State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Early Life & Environments and Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
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Ajay A, Begum T, Arya A, Kumar K, Ahmad S. Global and local genomic features together modulate the spontaneous single nucleotide mutation rate. Comput Biol Chem 2024; 112:108107. [PMID: 38875896 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2024.108107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Spontaneous mutations are evolutionary engines as they generate variants for the evolutionary downstream processes that give rise to speciation and adaptation. Single nucleotide mutations (SNM) are the most abundant type of mutations among them. Here, we perform a meta-analysis to quantify the influence of selected global genomic parameters (genome size, genomic GC content, genomic repeat fraction, number of coding genes, gene count, and strand bias in prokaryotes) and local genomic features (local GC content, repeat content, CpG content and the number of SNM at CpG islands) on spontaneous SNM rates across the tree of life (prokaryotes, unicellular eukaryotes, multicellular eukaryotes) using wild-type sequence data in two different taxon classification systems. We find that the spontaneous SNM rates in our data are correlated with many genomic features in prokaryotes and unicellular eukaryotes irrespective of their sample sizes. On the other hand, only the number of coding genes was correlated with the spontaneous SNM rates in multicellular eukaryotes primarily contributed by vertebrates data. Considering local features, we notice that local GC content and CpG content significantly were correlated with the spontaneous SNM rates in the unicellular eukaryotes, while local repeat fraction is an important feature in prokaryotes and certain specific uni- and multi-cellular eukaryotes. Such predictive features of the spontaneous SNM rates often support non-linear models as the best fit compared to the linear model. We also observe that the strand asymmetry in prokaryotes plays an important role in determining the spontaneous SNM rates but the SNM spectrum does not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akash Ajay
- School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India; School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Tina Begum
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.
| | - Ajay Arya
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Krishan Kumar
- School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Shandar Ahmad
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.
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Rolland SGM, Memar N, Gartner A. Tardigrades: Trained to be hardy in the face of DNA damage. Curr Biol 2024; 34:R504-R507. [PMID: 38772339 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Tardigrades withstand ionizing irradiation levels ∼500 times higher than humans can tolerate. Two recent papers shed light on how this might be achieved - via the transcriptional induction of DNA repair genes, the induction of a radioprotective DNA-binding protein, and possibly also the heightened capacity of repair proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane G M Rolland
- Center for Genomic Integrity, Institute for Basic Science, UNIST-gil 50, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Nadin Memar
- Center for Genomic Integrity, Institute for Basic Science, UNIST-gil 50, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Anton Gartner
- Center for Genomic Integrity, Institute for Basic Science, UNIST-gil 50, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea; Department of Biological Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea; Graduate School for Health Sciences and Technology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
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Binti S, Edeen PT, Fay DS. Loss of the Na + /K + cation pump CATP-1 suppresses nekl -associated molting defects. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.15.585189. [PMID: 38559007 PMCID: PMC10979969 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.15.585189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The conserved C. elegans protein kinases NEKL-2 and NEKL-3 regulate multiple steps of membrane trafficking and are required for larval molting. Through a forward genetic screen we identified a loss-of-function mutation in catp-1 as a suppressor of molting defects in synthetically lethal nekl-2; nekl-3 double mutants. catp-1 is predicted to encode a membrane- associated P4-type ATPase involved in Na + -K + exchange. Moreover, a mutation predicted to abolish CATP-1 ion-pump activity also suppressed nekl-2; nekl-3 mutants. Endogenously tagged CATP-1 was primarily expressed in epidermal (hypodermal) cells within punctate structures located at or near the apical plasma membrane. Through whole genome sequencing, we identified two additional nekl-2; nekl-3 suppressor strains containing coding-altering mutations in catp-1 but found that neither mutation, when introduced into nekl-2; nekl-3 mutants using CRISPR methods, was sufficient to elicit robust suppression of molting defects. Our data also suggested that the two catp-1 isoforms, catp-1a and catp-1b , may in some contexts be functionally redundant. On the basis of previously published studies, we tested the hypothesis that loss of catp-1 may suppress nekl -associated defects by inducing partial entry into the dauer pathway. Contrary to expectations, however, we failed to obtain evidence that loss of catp-1 suppresses nekl-2; nekl-3 defects through a dauer-associated mechanism or that loss of catp-1 leads to entry into the pre-dauer L2d stage. As such, loss of catp-1 may suppress nekl- associated molting and membrane trafficking defects by altering electrochemical gradients within membrane-bound compartments.
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Hsaio S, Saglam N, Morrow D, Shain DH. Transcriptomic Profiling at the Maternal-to-Zygotic Transition in Leech, Helobdella austinensis. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:283. [PMID: 38540342 PMCID: PMC10970458 DOI: 10.3390/genes15030283] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The glossiphoniid leech, Helobdella austinensis, is an experimentally tractable member of the superphylum, Lophotrochozoa. Its large embryonic cells, stereotyped asymmetric cell divisions and ex vivo development capabilities makes it a favorable model for studying the molecular and cellular events of a representative spiralian. In this study, we focused on a narrow developmental time window of ~6-8 h, comprising stages just prior to and immediately following zygote deposition. Employing RNA-Seq methodology, we identified differentially expressed transcripts at this fundamental ontogenic boundary, known as the maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT). Gene expression changes were characterized by the massive degradation of maternal RNAs (~45%) coupled with the rapid transcription of ~5000 zygotic genes (~20% of the genome) in the first mitotic cell cycle. The latter transcripts encoded a mixture of cell maintenance and regulatory proteins that predictably influence downstream developmental events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Hsaio
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Joint Health Sciences Center, 201 South Broadway, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - Naim Saglam
- Department of Aquaculture and Fish Diseases, Fisheries Faculty, Firat University, 23200 Elazig, Türkiye
| | - David Morrow
- Biology Department, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Joint Health Sciences Center, 201 South Broadway, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - Daniel H. Shain
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Joint Health Sciences Center, 201 South Broadway, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
- Biology Department, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Joint Health Sciences Center, 201 South Broadway, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
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10
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Heikes KL, Goldstein B. Expression patterns of FGF and BMP pathway genes in the tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.29.577774. [PMID: 38352320 PMCID: PMC10862696 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.29.577774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
A small number of conserved signaling pathways regulate development of most animals, yet we do not know where these pathways are deployed in most embryos. This includes tardigrades, a phylum with a unique body shape. We examined expression patterns of components of the BMP and FGF signaling pathways during embryonic segmentation and mesoderm development of the tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris. Among the patterns examined, we found that an FGF ligand gene is expressed in ectodermal segment posteriors and an FGF receptor gene is expressed in underlying endomesodermal pouches, suggesting possible FGF signaling between these developing germ layers. We found that a BMP ligand gene is expressed in lateral ectoderm and dorsolateral bands along segment posteriors, while the BMP antagonist Sog gene is expressed in lateral ectoderm and also in a subset of endomesodermal cells, suggesting a possible role of BMP signaling in dorsal-ventral patterning of lateral ectoderm. In combination with known roles of these pathways during development of common model systems, we developed hypotheses for how the BMP and FGF pathways might regulate embryo segmentation and mesoderm formation of the tardigrade H. exemplaris. These results identify the expression patterns of genes from two conserved signaling pathways for the first time in the tardigrade phylum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira L. Heikes
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Bob Goldstein
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Kamal M, Mukherjee S, Joshi B, Sindhu ZUD, Wangchuk P, Haider S, Ahmed N, Talukder MH, Geary TG, Yadav AK. Model nematodes as a practical innovation to promote high throughput screening of natural products for anthelmintics discovery in South Asia: Current challenges, proposed practical and conceptual solutions. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2023; 256:111594. [PMID: 37730126 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2023.111594] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
With the increasing prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in animals recorded globally, and the threat of resistance in human helminths, the need for novel anthelmintic drugs is greater than ever. Most research aimed at discovering novel anthelmintic leads relies on high throughput screening (HTS) of large libraries of synthetic small molecules in industrial and academic settings in developed countries, even though it is the tropical countries that are most plagued by helminth infections. Tropical countries, however, have the advantage of possessing a rich flora that may yield natural products (NP) with promising anthelmintic activity. Focusing on South Asia, which produces one of the world's highest research outputs in NP and NP-based anthelmintic discovery, we find that limited basic research and funding, a lack of awareness of the utility of model organisms, poor industry-academia partnerships and lack of technological innovations greatly limit anthelmintics research in the region. Here we propose that utilizing model organisms including the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, that can potentially allow rapid target identification of novel anthelmintics, and Oscheius tipulae, a closely related, free-living nematode which is found abundantly in soil in hotter temperatures, could be a much-needed innovation that can enable cost-effective and efficient HTS of NPs for discovering compounds with anthelmintic/antiparasitic potential in South Asia and other tropical regions that historically have devoted limited funding for such research. Additionally, increased collaborations at the national, regional and international level between parasitologists and pharmacologists/ethnobotanists, setting up government-industry-academia partnerships to fund academic research, creating a centralized, regional collection of plant extracts or purified NPs as a dereplication strategy and HTS library, and holding regional C. elegans/O. tipulae-based anthelmintics workshops and conferences to share knowledge and resources regarding model organisms may collectively promote and foster a NP-based anthelmintics landscape in South Asia and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muntasir Kamal
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Suprabhat Mukherjee
- Department of Animal Science, Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol 713340, West Bengal, India
| | - Bishnu Joshi
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zia-Ud-Din Sindhu
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Phurpa Wangchuk
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns Campus, QLD 4878, Australia
| | | | - Nurnabi Ahmed
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
| | | | - Timothy G Geary
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University-Belfast, Belfast, NI, UK
| | - Arun K Yadav
- Department of Zoology, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, India
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12
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Liao IJY, Lu TM, Chen ME, Luo YJ. Spiralian genomics and the evolution of animal genome architecture. Brief Funct Genomics 2023; 22:498-508. [PMID: 37507111 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elad029] [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: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent developments in sequencing technologies have greatly improved our knowledge of phylogenetic relationships and genomic architectures throughout the tree of life. Spiralia, a diverse clade within Protostomia, is essential for understanding the evolutionary history of parasitism, gene conversion, nervous systems and animal body plans. In this review, we focus on the current hypotheses of spiralian phylogeny and investigate the impact of long-read sequencing on the quality of genome assemblies. We examine chromosome-level assemblies to highlight key genomic features that have driven spiralian evolution, including karyotype, synteny and the Hox gene organization. In addition, we show how chromosome rearrangement has influenced spiralian genomic structures. Although spiralian genomes have undergone substantial changes, they exhibit both conserved and lineage-specific features. We recommend increasing sequencing efforts and expanding functional genomics research to deepen insights into spiralian biology.
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13
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Zhang H, Xiao S, Eriksson ME, Duan B, Maas A. Musculature of an Early Cambrian cycloneuralian animal. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231803. [PMID: 37817588 PMCID: PMC10565385 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cycloneuralians are ecdysozoans with a fossil record extending to the Early Cambrian Fortunian Age and represented mostly by cuticular integuments. However, internal anatomies of Fortunian cycloneuralians are virtually unknown, hampering our understanding of their functional morphology and phylogenetic relationships. Here we report the exceptional preservation of cycloneuralian introvert musculature in Fortunian rocks of South China. The musculature consists of an introvert body-wall muscular grid of four circular and 36 radially arranged longitudinal muscle bundles, as well as an introvert circular muscle associated with 19 roughly radially arranged, short retractors. Collectively, these features support at least a scalidophoran affinity, and the absence of muscles associated with a mouth cone and scalids further indicates a priapulan affinity. As in modern scalidophorans, the fossil musculature, and particularly the introvert circular muscle retractors, may have controlled introvert inversion and facilitated locomotion and feeding. This work supports the evolution of scalidophoran-like or priapulan-like introvert musculature in cycloneuralians at the beginning of the Cambrian Period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaqiao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuhai Xiao
- Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | | | - Baichuan Duan
- Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Metallogeny, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resource, Qingdao 266061, People's Republic of China
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14
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Tajer B, Savage AM, Whited JL. The salamander blastema within the broader context of metazoan regeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1206157. [PMID: 37635872 PMCID: PMC10450636 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1206157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout the animal kingdom regenerative ability varies greatly from species to species, and even tissue to tissue within the same organism. The sheer diversity of structures and mechanisms renders a thorough comparison of molecular processes truly daunting. Are "blastemas" found in organisms as distantly related as planarians and axolotls derived from the same ancestral process, or did they arise convergently and independently? Is a mouse digit tip blastema orthologous to a salamander limb blastema? In other fields, the thorough characterization of a reference model has greatly facilitated these comparisons. For example, the amphibian Spemann-Mangold organizer has served as an amazingly useful comparative template within the field of developmental biology, allowing researchers to draw analogies between distantly related species, and developmental processes which are superficially quite different. The salamander limb blastema may serve as the best starting point for a comparative analysis of regeneration, as it has been characterized by over 200 years of research and is supported by a growing arsenal of molecular tools. The anatomical and evolutionary closeness of the salamander and human limb also add value from a translational and therapeutic standpoint. Tracing the evolutionary origins of the salamander blastema, and its relatedness to other regenerative processes throughout the animal kingdom, will both enhance our basic biological understanding of regeneration and inform our selection of regenerative model systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jessica L. Whited
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
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15
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Ghanei-Motlagh R, Fast MD, Groman D, Kumar G, Soliman H, El-Matbouli M, Saleh M. Description, molecular identification and pathological lesions of Huffmanela persica sp. nov. (Nematoda: Trichosomoididae: Huffmanelinae) from the daggertooth pike conger Muraenesox cinereus. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:182. [PMID: 37277780 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05772-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The genus Huffmanela Moravec, 1987 (Nematoda, Trichosomoididae, Huffmanelinae), represents a group of nematodes that infect both marine and freshwater fish, and the main gross feature of infection with different species of the genus is the presence of noticeable dark spots or tracks within the parasitized tissues. The purpose of this study was to describe morphologically and morphometrically the eggs of a new marine species of Huffmanela (Huffmanela persica sp. nov.), which was found in the form of black spots in the ovary and the tunica serosa of the stomach of the daggertooth pike conger (Muraenesox cinereus). The new species differs from Huffmanela hamo, another species reported from musculature of this host in Japan, in egg metrics, eggshell features and targeted organ. Molecular identification and pathological examination of the lesions caused by the new species are also reported. METHODS Nematode eggs with varying degrees of development were separated from the infected tissues (ovary and tunica serosa of stomach) and investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. Different species-specific markers (small subunit ribosomal DNA, 18S; large subunit ribosomal DNA, 28S; internal transcribed spacer, ITS) were used for molecular identification and phylogenetic study of the new species. Infected tissues were fixed in buffered formalin for pathological investigations. RESULTS The fully developed eggs of H. persica sp. nov. are distinguished from those previously described from this host on the basis of their measurements (size, 54-68 × 31-43 µm; polar plugs, 6.4-9.7 × 8.4-12 µm; shell thickness, 3.5-6.1 µm) and a delicate but ornate uterine layer (UL) covering the entire eggshell including the polar plugs. Histopathological examination revealed a fibro-granulomatous inflammation in the ovary and the serosal layer of the stomach of infected fish. Maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis recovered a sister relationship between the new species of marine origin and Huffmanela species previously collected from freshwater hosts. CONCLUSIONS The present study is the first to report the molecular characterization and phylogenetic position of a teleost-associated marine species of the genus Huffmanela. A comprehensive list of nominal and innominate populations of Huffmanela is also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Ghanei-Motlagh
- Division of Fish Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada.
| | - Mark D Fast
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada
| | - David Groman
- Aquatic Diagnostic Services, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada
| | - Gokhlesh Kumar
- Division of Fish Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hatem Soliman
- Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt
| | - Mansour El-Matbouli
- Division of Fish Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mona Saleh
- Division of Fish Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
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16
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Heikes KL, Game M, Smith FW, Goldstein B. The embryonic origin of primordial germ cells in the tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris. Dev Biol 2023; 497:42-58. [PMID: 36893882 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2023.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) give rise to gametes - cells necessary for the propagation and fertility of diverse organisms. Current understanding of PGC development is limited to the small number of organisms whose PGCs have been identified and studied. Expanding the field to include little-studied taxa and emerging model organisms is important to understand the full breadth of the evolution of PGC development. In the phylum Tardigrada, no early cell lineages have been identified to date using molecular markers. This includes the PGC lineage. Here, we describe PGC development in the model tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris. The four earliest-internalizing cells (EICs) exhibit PGC-like behavior and nuclear morphology. The location of the EICs is enriched for mRNAs of conserved PGC markers wiwi1 (water bear piwi 1) and vasa. At early stages, both wiwi1 and vasa mRNAs are detectable uniformly in embryos, which suggests that these mRNAs do not serve as localized determinants for PGC specification. Only later are wiwi1 and vasa enriched in the EICs. Finally, we traced the cells that give rise to the four PGCs. Our results reveal the embryonic origin of the PGCs of H. exemplaris and provide the first molecular characterization of an early cell lineage in the tardigrade phylum. We anticipate that these observations will serve as a basis for characterizing the mechanisms of PGC development in this animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira L Heikes
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Mandy Game
- Biology Department, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Frank W Smith
- Biology Department, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Bob Goldstein
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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17
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Heikes KL, Game M, Smith FW, Goldstein B. The Embryonic Origin of Primordial Germ Cells in the Tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.02.522500. [PMID: 36824831 PMCID: PMC9948961 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.02.522500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) give rise to gametes â€" cells necessary for the propagation and fertility of diverse organisms. Current understanding of PGC development is limited to the small number of organisms whose PGCs have been identified and studied. Expanding the field to include little-studied taxa and emerging model organisms is important to understand the full breadth of the evolution of PGC development. In the phylum Tardigrada, no early cell lineages have been identified to date using molecular markers. This includes the PGC lineage. Here, we describe PGC development in the model tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris . The four earliest-internalizing cells (EICs) exhibit PGC-like behavior and nuclear morphology. The location of the EICs is enriched for mRNAs of conserved PGC markers wiwi1 (water bear piwi 1) and vasa . At early stages, both wiwi1 and vasa mRNAs are detectable uniformly in embryos, which suggests that these mRNAs do not serve as localized determinants for PGC specification. Only later are wiwi1 and vasa enriched in the EICs. Finally, we traced the cells that give rise to the four PGCs. Our results reveal the embryonic origin of the PGCs of H. exemplaris and provide the first molecular characterization of an early cell lineage in the tardigrade phylum. We anticipate that these observations will serve as a basis for characterizing the mechanisms of PGC development in this animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira L. Heikes
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Mandy Game
- Biology Department, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Frank W. Smith
- Biology Department, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Bob Goldstein
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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18
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Nanglu K, Cole SR, Wright DF, Souto C. Worms and gills, plates and spines: the evolutionary origins and incredible disparity of deuterostomes revealed by fossils, genes, and development. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:316-351. [PMID: 36257784 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12908] [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: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Deuterostomes are the major division of animal life which includes sea stars, acorn worms, and humans, among a wide variety of ecologically and morphologically disparate taxa. However, their early evolution is poorly understood, due in part to their disparity, which makes identifying commonalities difficult, as well as their relatively poor early fossil record. Here, we review the available morphological, palaeontological, developmental, and molecular data to establish a framework for exploring the origins of this important and enigmatic group. Recent fossil discoveries strongly support a vermiform ancestor to the group Hemichordata, and a fusiform active swimmer as ancestor to Chordata. The diverse and anatomically bewildering variety of forms among the early echinoderms show evidence of both bilateral and radial symmetry. We consider four characteristics most critical for understanding the form and function of the last common ancestor to Deuterostomia: Hox gene expression patterns, larval morphology, the capacity for biomineralization, and the morphology of the pharyngeal region. We posit a deuterostome last common ancestor with a similar antero-posterior gene regulatory system to that found in modern acorn worms and cephalochordates, a simple planktonic larval form, which was later elaborated in the ambulacrarian lineage, the ability to secrete calcium minerals in a limited fashion, and a pharyngeal respiratory region composed of simple pores. This animal was likely to be motile in adult form, as opposed to the sessile origins that have been historically suggested. Recent debates regarding deuterostome monophyly as well as the wide array of deuterostome-affiliated problematica further suggest the possibility that those features were not only present in the last common ancestor of Deuterostomia, but potentially in the ur-bilaterian. The morphology and development of the early deuterostomes, therefore, underpin some of the most significant questions in the study of metazoan evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karma Nanglu
- Museum of Comparative Zoology and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Selina R Cole
- Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 10th & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20560, USA.,Sam Noble Museum, University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK, 73072, USA.,School of Geosciences, University of Oklahoma, 100 E Boyd Street, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - David F Wright
- Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 10th & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20560, USA.,Sam Noble Museum, University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK, 73072, USA.,School of Geosciences, University of Oklahoma, 100 E Boyd Street, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Camilla Souto
- Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 10th & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20560, USA.,School of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Stockton University, 101 Vera King Farris Dr, Galloway, NJ, 08205, USA
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19
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Bibliometrics of velvet worm (Onychophora) research: geographic and historical trends over 150 years, and recommendations for future work. Biologia (Bratisl) 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-022-01221-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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20
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Almeida AL, Álvarez-Presas M, Carbayo F. The discovery of new Chilean taxa revolutionizes the systematics of Geoplaninae Neotropical land planarians (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida). Zool J Linn Soc 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Two subfamilies of land planarians (Geoplanidae) are endemic to the Neotropical region, namely Geoplaninae (with 29 genera and 346 nominal species, most of which are from Brazil) and its sister-group Timyminae, with only two Chilean species. The systematics of these groups through morphology and molecular data (COI and 28S rDNA genes), including nine new Chilean species, is re-assessed in this study. The great morphological diversity of the Chilean species is congruent with the molecular trees and, accordingly, five new genera (Adinoplana, Harana, Myoplana, Sarcoplana and Transandiplana) are proposed, each characterized by putative synapomorphies. Seven new tribes are also erected (Adinoplanini, Gusanini, Haranini, Inakayaliini, Myoplanini, Polycladini and Sarcoplanini), each one monogeneric, except Geoplanini (which includes all genera under the current concept of Geoplaninae plus the Chilean Transandiplana) and Sarcoplanini (with Sarcoplana and the already known Mapuplana, Pichidamas and Wallamapuplana). Re-diagnoses of Geoplaninae, Timymini, Gusana, Inakayalia, Polycladus and Pichidamas are proposed and biogeographic remarks on Transandiplana are provided
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Laura Almeida
- Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo , Avenida Nazaré, 481, CEP 04263-000, Ipiranga, São Paulo, SP , Brazil
| | - Marta Álvarez-Presas
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol , 24 Tyndall Avenue, BS8 1TQ, Bristol , UK
| | - Fernando Carbayo
- Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo , Avenida Nazaré, 481, CEP 04263-000, Ipiranga, São Paulo, SP , Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução, Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de São Paulo – USP , Av. Arlindo Bettio, 1000, CEP 03828-000, São Paulo, SP , Brazil
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21
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Zhou Z, Mei H, Li R, Wang C, Fang K, Wang W, Tang Y, Dai Z. Progresses of animal robots: A historical review and perspectiveness. Heliyon 2022; 8:e11499. [PMID: 36411898 PMCID: PMC9674511 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal robots have remarkable advantages over traditional mechatronic ones in terms of energy supply, self-orientation, and natural concealment and can provide remarkable theoretical and practical values for scientific investigation, community service, military detection and other fields. Given these features, animal robots have become high-profile research objects and have recently attracted extensive attention. Herein, we have defined animal robots, reviewed the main types of animal robots, and discussed the potential developing directions. We have also detailed the mechanisms underlying the regulation of animal robots and introduced key methods for manipulating them. We have further proposed several application prospects for different types of animal robots. Finally, we have presented research directions for their further improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyue Zhou
- Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hao Mei
- Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rongxun Li
- Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chenyuan Wang
- Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ke Fang
- Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenbo Wang
- Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yezhong Tang
- Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. No.9 Section 4, Renmin Nan Road, 610041, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhendong Dai
- Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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22
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Kamal M, Tokmakjian L, Knox J, Mastrangelo P, Ji J, Cai H, Wojciechowski JW, Hughes MP, Takács K, Chu X, Pei J, Grolmusz V, Kotulska M, Forman-Kay JD, Roy PJ. A spatiotemporal reconstruction of the C. elegans pharyngeal cuticle reveals a structure rich in phase-separating proteins. eLife 2022; 11:e79396. [PMID: 36259463 PMCID: PMC9629831 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
How the cuticles of the roughly 4.5 million species of ecdysozoan animals are constructed is not well understood. Here, we systematically mine gene expression datasets to uncover the spatiotemporal blueprint for how the chitin-based pharyngeal cuticle of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is built. We demonstrate that the blueprint correctly predicts expression patterns and functional relevance to cuticle development. We find that as larvae prepare to molt, catabolic enzymes are upregulated and the genes that encode chitin synthase, chitin cross-linkers, and homologs of amyloid regulators subsequently peak in expression. Forty-eight percent of the gene products secreted during the molt are predicted to be intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), many of which belong to four distinct families whose transcripts are expressed in overlapping waves. These include the IDPAs, IDPBs, and IDPCs, which are introduced for the first time here. All four families have sequence properties that drive phase separation and we demonstrate phase separation for one exemplar in vitro. This systematic analysis represents the first blueprint for cuticle construction and highlights the massive contribution that phase-separating materials make to the structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muntasir Kamal
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Levon Tokmakjian
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Jessica Knox
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Peter Mastrangelo
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Jingxiu Ji
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Hao Cai
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoCanada
| | - Jakub W Wojciechowski
- Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Department of Biomedical EngineeringWroclawPoland
| | - Michael P Hughes
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research HospitalMemphisUnited States
| | - Kristóf Takács
- PIT Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Mathematics, Eötvös UniversityBudapestHungary
| | - Xiaoquan Chu
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Jianfeng Pei
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, Tsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Vince Grolmusz
- PIT Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Mathematics, Eötvös UniversityBudapestHungary
| | - Malgorzata Kotulska
- Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Department of Biomedical EngineeringWroclawPoland
| | - Julie Deborah Forman-Kay
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoCanada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Peter J Roy
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
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Lozano-Fernandez J. A Practical Guide to Design and Assess a Phylogenomic Study. Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:evac129. [PMID: 35946263 PMCID: PMC9452790 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, molecular systematics has undergone a change of paradigm as high-throughput sequencing now makes it possible to reconstruct evolutionary relationships using genome-scale datasets. The advent of "big data" molecular phylogenetics provided a battery of new tools for biologists but simultaneously brought new methodological challenges. The increase in analytical complexity comes at the price of highly specific training in computational biology and molecular phylogenetics, resulting very often in a polarized accumulation of knowledge (technical on one side and biological on the other). Interpreting the robustness of genome-scale phylogenetic studies is not straightforward, particularly as new methodological developments have consistently shown that the general belief of "more genes, more robustness" often does not apply, and because there is a range of systematic errors that plague phylogenomic investigations. This is particularly problematic because phylogenomic studies are highly heterogeneous in their methodology, and best practices are often not clearly defined. The main aim of this article is to present what I consider as the ten most important points to take into consideration when planning a well-thought-out phylogenomic study and while evaluating the quality of published papers. The goal is to provide a practical step-by-step guide that can be easily followed by nonexperts and phylogenomic novices in order to assess the technical robustness of phylogenomic studies or improve the experimental design of a project.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesus Lozano-Fernandez
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), University of Barcelona, Avd. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC – Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig marítim de la Barcelona 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
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Martynov AV, Korshunova TA. Renewed perspectives on the sedentary-pelagic last common bilaterian ancestor. CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1163/18759866-bja10034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Various evaluations of the last common bilaterian ancestor (lcba) currently suggest that it resembled either a microscopic, non-segmented motile adult; or, on the contrary, a complex segmented adult motile urbilaterian. These fundamental inconsistencies remain largely unexplained. A majority of multidisciplinary data regarding sedentary adult ancestral bilaterian organization is overlooked. The sedentary-pelagic model is supported now by a number of novel developmental, paleontological and molecular phylogenetic data: (1) data in support of sedentary sponges, in the adult stage, as sister to all other Metazoa; (2) a similarity of molecular developmental pathways in both adults and larvae across sedentary sponges, cnidarians, and bilaterians; (3) a cnidarian-bilaterian relationship, including a unique sharing of a bona fide Hox-gene cluster, of which the evolutionary appearance does not connect directly to a bilaterian motile organization; (4) the presence of sedentary and tube-dwelling representatives of the main bilaterian clades in the early Cambrian; (5) an absence of definite taxonomic attribution of Ediacaran taxa reconstructed as motile to any true bilaterian phyla; (6) a similarity of tube morphology (and the clear presence of a protoconch-like apical structure of the Ediacaran sedentary Cloudinidae) among shells of the early Cambrian, and later true bilaterians, such as semi-sedentary hyoliths and motile molluscs; (7) recent data that provide growing evidence for a complex urbilaterian, despite a continuous molecular phylogenetic controversy. The present review compares the main existing models and reconciles the sedentary model of an urbilaterian and the model of a larva-like lcba with a unified sedentary(adult)-pelagic(larva) model of the lcba.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander V. Martynov
- Zoological Museum, Moscow State University, Bolshaya Nikitskaya Str. 6, 125009 Moscow, Russia,
| | - Tatiana A. Korshunova
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology RAS, 26 Vavilova Str., 119334 Moscow, Russia
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25
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Goldstein B. Tardigrades. Nat Methods 2022; 19:904-905. [PMID: 35927483 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-022-01573-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bob Goldstein
- Department of Biology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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26
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Tibbs-Cortes LE, Tibbs-Cortes BW, Schmitz-Esser S. Tardigrade Community Microbiomes in North American Orchards Include Putative Endosymbionts and Plant Pathogens. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:866930. [PMID: 35923389 PMCID: PMC9340075 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.866930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The microbiome of tardigrades, a phylum of microscopic animals best known for their ability to survive extreme conditions, is poorly studied worldwide and completely unknown in North America. An improved understanding of tardigrade-associated bacteria is particularly important because tardigrades have been shown to act as vectors of the plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris in the laboratory. However, the potential role of tardigrades as reservoirs and vectors of phytopathogens has not been investigated further. This study analyzed the microbiota of tardigrades from six apple orchards in central Iowa, United States, and is the first analysis of the microbiota of North American tardigrades. It is also the first ever study of the tardigrade microbiome in an agricultural setting. We utilized 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to characterize the tardigrade community microbiome across four contrasts: location, substrate type (moss or lichen), collection year, and tardigrades vs. their substrate. Alpha diversity of the tardigrade community microbiome differed significantly by location and year of collection but not by substrate type. Our work also corroborated earlier findings, demonstrating that tardigrades harbor a distinct microbiota from their environment. We also identified tardigrade-associated taxa that belong to genera known to contain phytopathogens (Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, and the Pantoea/Erwinia complex). Finally, we observed members of the genera Rickettsia and Wolbachia in the tardigrade microbiome; because these are obligate intracellular genera, we consider these taxa to be putative endosymbionts of tardigrades. These results suggest the presence of putative endosymbionts and phytopathogens in the microbiota of wild tardigrades in North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E. Tibbs-Cortes
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Interdepartmental Genetics and Genomics Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- *Correspondence: Laura E. Tibbs-Cortes,
| | - Bienvenido W. Tibbs-Cortes
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Interdepartmental Microbiology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Stephan Schmitz-Esser
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Interdepartmental Microbiology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
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Khalturin K, Shunatova N, Shchenkov S, Sasakura Y, Kawamitsu M, Satoh N. Polyzoa is back: The effect of complete gene sets on the placement of Ectoprocta and Entoprocta. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo4400. [PMID: 35776797 PMCID: PMC10883361 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo4400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The phylogenomic approach has largely resolved metazoan phylogeny and improved our knowledge of animal evolution based on morphology, paleontology, and embryology. Nevertheless, the placement of two major lophotrochozoan phyla, Entoprocta (Kamptozoa) and Ectoprocta (Bryozoa), remains highly controversial: Originally considered as a single group named Polyzoa (Bryozoa), they were separated on the basis of morphology. So far, each new study of lophotrochozoan evolution has still consistently proposed different phylogenetic positions for these groups. Here, we reinvestigated the placement of Entoprocta and Ectoprocta using highly complete datasets with rigorous contamination removal. Our results from maximum likelihood, Bayesian, and coalescent analyses strongly support the topology in which Entoprocta and Bryozoa form a distinct clade, placed as a sister group to all other lophotrochozoan clades: Annelida, Mollusca, Brachiopoda, Phoronida, and Nemertea. Our study favors the evolutionary scenario where Entoprocta, Cycliophora, and Bryozoa constitute one of the earliest branches among Lophotrochozoa and thus supports the Polyzoa hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin Khalturin
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Natalia Shunatova
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St. Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sergei Shchenkov
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St. Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Yasunori Sasakura
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka 415-0025, Japan
| | - Mayumi Kawamitsu
- DNA Sequencing Section, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Satoh
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
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Ott LC, Mellata M. Models for Gut-Mediated Horizontal Gene Transfer by Bacterial Plasmid Conjugation. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:891548. [PMID: 35847067 PMCID: PMC9280185 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.891548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of new antimicrobial resistant and virulent bacterial strains may pose a threat to human and animal health. Bacterial plasmid conjugation is a significant contributor to rapid microbial evolutions that results in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AR). The gut of animals is believed to be a potent reservoir for the spread of AR and virulence genes through the horizontal exchange of mobile genetic elements such as plasmids. The study of the plasmid transfer process in the complex gut environment is limited due to the confounding factors that affect colonization, persistence, and plasmid conjugation. Furthermore, study of plasmid transfer in the gut of humans is limited to observational studies, leading to the need to identify alternate models that provide insight into the factors regulating conjugation in the gut. This review discusses key studies on the current models for in silico, in vitro, and in vivo modeling of bacterial conjugation, and their ability to reflect the gut of animals. We particularly emphasize the use of computational and in vitro models that may approximate aspects of the gut, as well as animal models that represent in vivo conditions to a greater extent. Directions on future research studies in the field are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan C. Ott
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Interdepartmental Microbiology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Melha Mellata
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Interdepartmental Microbiology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- *Correspondence: Melha Mellata,
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29
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Rough backs: taxonomic value of epicuticular sculpturing in the genus Milnesium Doyère, 1840 (Tardigrada: Apochela). Sci Rep 2022; 12:9857. [PMID: 35701458 PMCID: PMC9197921 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10758-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The phylum Tardigrada comprises ~ 1400 described species that inhabit a wide range of ecosystems throughout the globe. Tardigrades are generally considered taxonomically challenging due to a strongly limited number of taxonomically informative morphological traits and microscopic size. Of all tardigrade groups, the taxonomy of Milnesium Doyère, 1840 is particularly difficult because in comparison with most other eutardigrades, the genus lacks the taxonomically informative egg shell ornamentation and/or placoids in the muscle pharynx. Therefore, any new morphological traits that could be used in species delineation and identification are priceless. In this contribution, we review and evaluate taxonomic value of the dorsal cuticle morphology. Specifically, by means of experimental taxonomy, we demonstrate the first extreme case of ontogenetic variability in dorsal epicuticle sculpturing using a new species from Portugal, Milnesium decorumsp. nov. Furthermore, we verify the existence of dorsal gibbosities in Milnesium reticulatum Pilato, Binda, Lisi, 2002, the only species of the genus allegedly exhibiting these structures. Finally, we provide a diagnostic key to the Milnesium granulatum morphogroup.
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30
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Athar F, Templeman NM. C. elegans as a model organism to study female reproductive health. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2022; 266:111152. [PMID: 35032657 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Female reproductive health has been historically understudied and underfunded. Here, we present the advantages of using a free-living nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, as an animal system to study fundamental aspects of female reproductive health. C. elegans is a powerful high-throughput model organism that shares key genetic and physiological similarities with humans. In this review, we highlight areas of pressing medical and biological importance in the 21st century within the context of female reproductive health. These include the decline in female reproductive capacity with increasing chronological age, reproductive dysfunction arising from toxic environmental insults, and cancers of the reproductive system. C. elegans has been instrumental in uncovering mechanistic insights underlying these processes, and has been valuable for developing and testing therapeutics to combat them. Adopting a convenient model organism such as C. elegans for studying reproductive health will encourage further research into this field, and broaden opportunities for making advancements into evolutionarily conserved mechanisms that control reproductive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faria Athar
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Nicole M Templeman
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada.
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31
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Wu YZ, Jiang HS, Han HF, Li PH, Lu MR, Tsai IJ, Wu YC. C. elegans BLMP-1 controls apical epidermal cell morphology by repressing expression of mannosyltransferase bus-8 and molting signal mlt-8. Dev Biol 2022; 486:96-108. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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32
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Evo-Devo of Urbilateria and its larval forms. Dev Biol 2022; 487:10-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Abstract
Experimentally tractable organisms like C. elegans, Drosophila, zebrafish, and mouse are popular models for addressing diverse questions in biology. In 1997, two of the most valuable invertebrate model organisms to date-C. elegans and Drosophila-were found to be much more closely related to each other than expected. C. elegans and Drosophila belong to the nematodes and arthropods, respectively, and these two phyla and six other phyla make up a clade of molting animals referred to as the Ecdysozoa. The other ecdysozoan phyla could be valuable models for comparative biology, taking advantage of the rich and continual sources of research findings as well as tools from both C. elegans and Drosophila. But when the Ecdysozoa was first recognized, few tools were available for laboratory studies in any of these six other ecdysozoan phyla. In 1999 I began an effort to develop tools for studying one such phylum, the tardigrades. Here, I describe how the tardigrade species Hypsibius exemplaris and tardigrades more generally have emerged over the past two decades as valuable new models for answering diverse questions. To date, these questions have included how animal body plans evolve and how biological materials can survive some remarkably extreme conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bob Goldstein
- Department of Biology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States.
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34
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Glossiphoniid leeches as a touchstone for studies of development in clitellate annelids. Curr Top Dev Biol 2022; 147:433-468. [PMID: 35337458 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2021.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
My goals in this chapter are to share my enthusiasm for studying the biology of leeches, to place this work in context by presenting my rationale for studying non-traditional biological models in general, and to sample just three of the questions that intrigue me in leech biology, namely segmentation, genome evolution and neuronal fate specification. I first became excited about the idea of using leeches as a subject of investigation as an undergraduate in 1970 and have been engaged in this work since I arrived at Berkeley as a postdoc in 1976, intending to study leech neurobiology. Both my research interests and the rationale for the work have expanded greatly since then. What follows is a fragmentary personal and historical account-the interested reader may find more comprehensive treatments elsewhere (Kuo et al., 2020; Shankland & Savage, 1997; Shain, 2009; Weisblat & Huang, 2001; Weisblat & Kuo, 2009, 2014; Weisblat & Winchell, 2020).
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35
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Seaver EC. Sifting through the mud: A tale of building the annelid Capitella teleta for EvoDevo studies. Curr Top Dev Biol 2022; 147:401-432. [PMID: 35337457 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2021.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Over the last few decades, the annelid Capitella teleta has been used increasingly as a study system for investigations of development and regeneration. Its favorable properties include an ability to continuously maintain a laboratory culture, availability of a sequenced genome, a stereotypic cleavage program of early development, substantial regeneration abilities, and established experimental and functional genomics techniques. With this review I tell of my adventure of establishing the Capitella teleta as an emerging model and share examples of a few of the contributions our work has made to the fields of evo-devo and developmental biology. I highlight examples of conservation in developmental programs as well as surprising deviations from existing paradigms that highlight the importance of leveraging biological diversity to shift thinking in the field. The story for each study system is unique, and every animal has its own advantages and disadvantages as an experimental system. Just like most progress in science, it takes strategy, hard work and determination to develop tools and resources for a less studied animal, but luck and serendipity also play a role. I include a few narratives to personalize the science, share details of the story that are not included in typical publications, and provide perspective for investigators who are interested in developing their own study organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine C Seaver
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, United States.
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HODDA M. Phylum Nematoda: a classification, catalogue and index of valid genera, with a census of valid species. Zootaxa 2022; 5114:1-289. [DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5114.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
A classification of the entire Phylum Nematoda is presented, based on current molecular, developmental and morphological evidence. The classification reflects the evolutionary relationships within the phylum, as well as significant areas of uncertainty, particularly related to the early evolution of nematodes. It includes 3 classes, 8 subclasses, 12 superorders, 32 orders, 53 suborders, 101 superfamilies, 276 families, 511 subfamilies, 3030 genera, and 28537 species. All valid species named from the time of publication of the previous classification and census (2010) to the end of 2019 are listed, along with the number of valid species in each genus. Taxonomic authorities are provided for taxon names of all ranks. The habitats where the species in each genus are found are listed, and an alphabetic index of genus names is provided. The systematics of nematodes is reviewed, along with a history of nematode classification; evolutionary affinities and origins of nematodes; and the current diagnosis of the group. Short overviews of the general biology, ecology, scientific and economic importance of the group are presented.
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Essay the (unusual) heuristic value of Hox gene clusters; a matter of time? Dev Biol 2022; 484:75-87. [PMID: 35182536 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Ever since their first report in 1984, Antennapedia-type homeobox (Hox) genes have been involved in such a series of interesting observations, in particular due to their conserved clustered organization between vertebrates and arthropods, that one may legitimately wonder about the origin of this heuristic value. In this essay, I first consider different examples where Hox gene clusters have been instrumental in providing conceptual advances, taken from various fields of research and mostly involving vertebrate embryos. These examples touch upon our understanding of genomic evolution, the revisiting of 19th century views on the relationships between development and evolution and the building of a new framework to understand long-range and pleiotropic gene regulation during development. I then discuss whether the high value of the Hox gene family, when considered as an epistemic object, is related to its clustered structure (and the absence thereof in some animal species) and, if so, what is it in such particular genetic oddities that made them so generous in providing the scientific community with interesting information.
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38
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Superson A, Battistuzzi F. Exclusion of fast evolving genes or fast evolving sites produces different archaean phylogenies. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2022; 170:107438. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Bar Yaacov D. Functional analysis of ADARs in planarians supports a bilaterian ancestral role in suppressing double-stranded RNA-response. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010250. [PMID: 35041722 PMCID: PMC8797187 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
ADARs (adenosine deaminases acting on RNA) are known for their adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing activity, and most recently, for their role in preventing aberrant dsRNA-response by activation of dsRNA sensors (i.e., RIG-I-like receptor homologs). However, it is still unclear whether suppressing spurious dsRNA-response represents the ancestral role of ADARs in bilaterians. As a first step to address this question, we identified ADAR1 and ADAR2 homologs in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea, which is evolutionarily distant from canonical lab models (e.g., flies and nematodes). Our results indicate that knockdown of either planarian adar1 or adar2 by RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in upregulation of dsRNA-response genes, including three planarian rig-I-like receptor (prlr) homologs. Furthermore, independent knockdown of adar1 and adar2 reduced the number of infected cells with a dsRNA virus, suggesting they suppress a bona fide anti-viral dsRNA-response activity. Knockdown of adar1 also resulted in lesion formation and animal lethality, thus attesting to its essentiality. Simultaneous knockdown of adar1 and prlr1 rescued adar1(RNAi)-dependent animal lethality and rescued the dsRNA-response, suggesting that it contributes to the deleterious effect of adar1 knockdown. Finally, we found that ADAR2, but not ADAR1, mediates mRNA editing in planarians, suggesting at least in part non-redundant activities for planarians ADARs. Our results underline the essential role of ADARs in suppressing activation of harmful dsRNA-response in planarians, thus supporting it as their ancestral role in bilaterians. Our work also set the stage to study further and better understand the regulatory mechanisms governing anti-viral dsRNA-responses from an evolutionary standpoint using planarians as a model. Today, more than ever, it is crucial to gain a deep understating of our anti-viral defenses. One of the ways to accomplish it is to study the principles governing anti-viral responses across various organisms. ADARs are a group of proteins that act on RNA molecules and alter their sequence compared to the genes that encode them (a process termed RNA editing). In recent years, ADARs have been shown to suppress abnormal anti-viral responses triggered by self-components of the cell (RNA encoded by the cell). Here, we show that the involvement of ADARs in anti-viral response regulation is conserved in planarians (free-living flatworms). We identified two ADAR proteins in planarians and showed that eliminating one (ADAR1) results in animal death and that an anti-viral response commenced in the absence of either ADAR1 or ADAR2. We further identified one of the proteins (PRLR1) that participate in initiating this anti-viral response in planarians, which its mammalian homolog (MDA5) serves a similar role. Thus, our work suggests that ADARs involvement in suppressing aberrant anti-viral response is an ancient evolutionary invention and is likely shared across multicellular organisms with bilateral symmetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Bar Yaacov
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Guil N, Guidetti R, Cesari M, Marchioro T, Rebecchi L, Machordom A. Molecular Phylogenetics, Speciation, and Long Distance Dispersal in Tardigrade Evolution: A case study of the genusMilnesium. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2022; 169:107401. [PMID: 35031462 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Microorganisms (sensu lato, i.e., including micrometazoans) are thought to have cosmopolitan geographic distributions due to their theoretically unlimited dispersal capabilities, a consequence of their tiny size, population dynamics, and resistant forms. However, several molecular studies of microorganisms have identified biogeographic patterns indicating cryptic speciation and/or weak species definitions. Using a multi-locus approach with the genus Milnesium (Tardigrada), we aimed to determine the genetic structure of populations worldwide and the effects of long distance dispersal (LDD) on genetic connectivity and relationships across the six continents. Our results on this micrometazoan's genetic structure and LDD at global and micro-local scales indicate contrasting patterns not easily explained by a unique or simple phenomenon. Overall, we report three key findings: (i) confirmation of long distance dispersal for tardigrades, (ii) populations with globally-shared or endemic micro-local haplotypes, and (iii) a supported genetic structure instead of the homogeneous genetic distribution hypothesized for microorganisms with LDD capabilities. Moreover, incongruences between our morphological and molecular results suggest that species delimitation within the genus Milnesium could be problematic due to homoplasy. Duality found for Milnesium populations at the global scale, namely, a molecular phylogenetic structure mixed with widely distributed haplotypes (but without any apparent biogeographic structure), is similar to patterns observed for some unicellular, prokaryotic and eukaryotic, microorganisms. Factors influencing these patterns are discussed within an evolutionary framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Guil
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC). José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain.
| | - R Guidetti
- Department of Life Sciences. University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/D, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - M Cesari
- Department of Life Sciences. University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/D, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - T Marchioro
- Department of Life Sciences. University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/D, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - L Rebecchi
- Department of Life Sciences. University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/D, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - A Machordom
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC). José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain
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Herranz M, Stiller J, Worsaae K, Sørensen MV. Phylogenomic analyses of mud dragons (Kinorhyncha). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2021; 168:107375. [PMID: 34952205 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Mud dragons (Kinorhyncha) are microscopic invertebrates, inhabiting marine sediments across the globe from intertidal to hadal depths. They are segmented, moulting animals like arthropods, but grouping with the unsegmented priapulans and loriciferans within Ecdysozoa. There are more than 300 species of kinorhynchs described within 31 genera and 11 families, however, their evolutionary relationships have so far only been investigated using morphology and a few molecular markers. Here we aim to resolve the relationships and classification of major clades within Kinorhyncha using transcriptomic data. In addition, we wish to revisit the position of three indistinctly segmented, aberrant genera in order to reconstruct the evolution of distinct segmentation within the group. We conducted a phylogenomic analysis of Kinorhyncha including 21 kinorhynch transcriptomes (of which 18 are new) representing 15 genera, and seven outgroups including priapulan, loriciferan, nematode and nematomorph transcriptomes. Results show a congruent and robust tree that supports the division of Kinorhyncha into two major clades: Cyclorhagida and Allomalorhagida. Cyclorhagida is composed of three subclades: Xenosomata, Kentrorhagata comb. nov. (including the aberrant Zelinkaderes) and Echinorhagata. Allomalorhagida is composed of two subclades: Pycnophyidae and Anomoirhaga nom. nov. Anomoirhaga nom. nov. accommodates the aberrant genera Cateria (previously nested within Cyclorhagida) and Franciscideres together with five additional genera. The distant and derived positions of the aberrant Zelinkaderes, Cateria and Franciscideres species suggest that their less distinct trunk segmentation evolved convergently, and that segmentation evolved among kinorhynch stem groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Herranz
- Marine Biology section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Josefin Stiller
- Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Katrine Worsaae
- Marine Biology section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Martin V Sørensen
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Baker CM, Buckman-Young RS, Costa CS, Giribet G. Phylogenomic Analysis of Velvet Worms (Onychophora) Uncovers an Evolutionary Radiation in the Neotropics. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:5391-5404. [PMID: 34427671 PMCID: PMC8662635 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Onychophora ("velvet worms") are charismatic soil invertebrates known for their status as a "living fossil," their phylogenetic affiliation to arthropods, and their distinctive biogeographic patterns. However, several aspects of their internal phylogenetic relationships remain unresolved, limiting our understanding of the group's evolutionary history, particularly with regard to changes in reproductive mode and dispersal ability. To address these gaps, we used RNA sequencing and phylogenomic analysis of transcriptomes to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships and infer divergence times within the phylum. We recovered a fully resolved and well-supported phylogeny for the circum-Antarctic family Peripatopsidae, which retains signals of Gondwanan vicariance and showcases the evolutionary lability of reproductive mode in the family. Within the Neotropical clade of Peripatidae, though, we found that amino acid-translated sequence data masked nearly all phylogenetic signal, resulting in highly unstable and poorly supported relationships. Analyses using nucleotide sequence data were able to resolve many more relationships, though we still saw discordant phylogenetic signal between genes, probably indicative of a rapid, mid-Cretaceous radiation in the group. Finally, we hypothesize that the unique reproductive mode of placentotrophic viviparity found in all Neotropical peripatids may have facilitated the multiple inferred instances of over-water dispersal and establishment on oceanic islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M Baker
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Rebecca S Buckman-Young
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Cristiano S Costa
- Laboratório de Sistemática e Taxonomia de Artrópodes Terrestres, Departamento de Biologia e Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil
| | - Gonzalo Giribet
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Yoon J, Hou Y, Knoepfel AM, Yang D, Ye T, Zheng L, Yennawar N, Sanghadasa M, Priya S, Wang K. Bio-inspired strategies for next-generation perovskite solar mobile power sources. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:12915-12984. [PMID: 34622260 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs01493a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Smart electronic devices are becoming ubiquitous due to many appealing attributes including portability, long operational time, rechargeability and compatibility with the user-desired form factor. Integration of mobile power sources (MPS) based on photovoltaic technologies with smart electronics will continue to drive improved sustainability and independence. With high efficiency, low cost, flexibility and lightweight features, halide perovskite photovoltaics have become promising candidates for MPS. Realization of these photovoltaic MPS (PV-MPS) with unconventionally extraordinary attributes requires new 'out-of-box' designs. Natural materials have provided promising designing solutions to engineer properties under a broad range of boundary conditions, ranging from molecules, proteins, cells, tissues, apparatus to systems in animals, plants, and humans optimized through billions of years of evolution. Applying bio-inspired strategies in PV-MPS could be biomolecular modification on crystallization at the atomic/meso-scale, bio-structural duplication at the device/system level and bio-mimicking at the functional level to render efficient charge delivery, energy transport/utilization, as well as stronger resistance against environmental stimuli (e.g., self-healing and self-cleaning). In this review, we discuss the bio-inspired/-mimetic structures, experimental models, and working principles, with the goal of revealing physics and bio-microstructures relevant for PV-MPS. Here the emphasis is on identifying the strategies and material designs towards improvement of the performance of emerging halide perovskite PVs and strategizing their bridge to future MPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungjin Yoon
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA.
| | - Yuchen Hou
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA.
| | - Abbey Marie Knoepfel
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA.
| | - Dong Yang
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA.
| | - Tao Ye
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA.
| | - Luyao Zheng
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA.
| | - Neela Yennawar
- Huck Institute of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA
| | - Mohan Sanghadasa
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 35898, USA
| | - Shashank Priya
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA.
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA.
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Ramoutar VV, Johnson YJ, Kohrt LJ, Bahr JM, Iwai A, Caporali EHG, Myint MS, Szigetvari N, Stewart MC. Retroviral Association with Ovarian Adenocarcinoma in Laying Hens. Avian Pathol 2021; 51:113-119. [PMID: 34807789 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2021.2007849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The laying hen has been used as a model for ovarian adenocarcinoma (OAC) in women. Previous work has shown an association between expression of endogenous retroviral proteins and elevated envelope mRNA and occurrence of OAC has been demonstrated in humans, but causality has not been demonstrated. The objective of this study was to determine whether there is a similar association between retrovirus presence and OAC in a commercial laying hen flock at the University of Illinois Poultry Research facility with a history of a high prevalence of OAC in its aged hens. Laying hens of three age strata were randomly selected for a cross-sectional study. Blood samples were collected, and serum was tested for antigens of endogenous or exogenous avian leukosis virus (ALV) by ELISA. Birds were humanely euthanized, and spleens, ovaries, and any tissues with gross lesions were sampled. Ovaries and tissues with gross lesions were examined histologically and spleens were used for RT-PCR to detect endogenous ALV via ALV-E env mRNA expression. Overall, hens with OAC were 5.2 times more likely to be ALV positive than hens without OAC (95% C.I. = 2.06-13.14). Holding age stratum constant, OAC positive hens were 3.6 times more likely to be positive for ALV via antigen-capture ELISA (95% C.I. 1.08- 11.96). Endogenous ALV-E in hens may be analogous to the human endogenous retroviruses, which have also been associated with OAC in women. Further studies to establish causation are warranted to better understand the potential for laying hens to serve as a laboratory model for viral-induced ovarian tumors in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varsha V Ramoutar
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois, 1008 W. Hazelwood Dr., Urbana, IL 61802
| | - Yvette J Johnson
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois, 1008 W. Hazelwood Dr., Urbana, IL 61802
| | - Laura J Kohrt
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Illinois, 2001 S. Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802
| | - Janice M Bahr
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, 1207 W. Gregory Dr., Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Aya Iwai
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois, 1008 W. Hazelwood Dr., Urbana, IL 61802
| | - Evelyn H G Caporali
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois, 1008 W. Hazelwood Dr., Urbana, IL 61802
| | - Maung S Myint
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois, 1008 W. Hazelwood Dr., Urbana, IL 61802
| | - Nicholas Szigetvari
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois, 1008 W. Hazelwood Dr., Urbana, IL 61802
| | - Matthew C Stewart
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois, 1008 W. Hazelwood Dr., Urbana, IL 61802
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Pulavarty A, Egan A, Karpinska A, Horgan K, Kakouli-Duarte T. Plant Parasitic Nematodes: A Review on Their Behaviour, Host Interaction, Management Approaches and Their Occurrence in Two Sites in the Republic of Ireland. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:plants10112352. [PMID: 34834715 PMCID: PMC8624893 DOI: 10.3390/plants10112352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Plant parasitic nematodes are a major problem for growers worldwide, causing severe crop losses. Several conventional strategies, such as chemical nematicides and biofumigation, have been employed in the past to manage their infection in plants and spread in soils. However, the search for the most sustainable and environmentally safe practices is still ongoing. This review summarises information on plant parasitic nematodes, their distribution, and their interaction with their host plants, along with various approaches to manage their infestations. It also focuses on the application of microbial and fermentation-based bionematicides that have not only been successful in controlling nematode infection but have also led to plant growth promotion and proven to be environmentally safe. Studies with new information on the relative abundance of plant parasitic nematodes in two agricultural sites in the Republic of Ireland are also reported. This review, with the information it provides, will help to generate an up-to-date knowledge base on plant parasitic nematodes and their management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anusha Pulavarty
- Molecular Ecology and Nematode Research Group, enviroCORE, Department of Science and Health, Institute of Technology Carlow, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland; (A.P.); (A.E.); (A.K.)
| | - Aoife Egan
- Molecular Ecology and Nematode Research Group, enviroCORE, Department of Science and Health, Institute of Technology Carlow, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland; (A.P.); (A.E.); (A.K.)
| | - Anna Karpinska
- Molecular Ecology and Nematode Research Group, enviroCORE, Department of Science and Health, Institute of Technology Carlow, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland; (A.P.); (A.E.); (A.K.)
| | - Karina Horgan
- Alltech Bioscience Centre, A86 X006 Dunboyne, County Meath, Ireland;
| | - Thomais Kakouli-Duarte
- Molecular Ecology and Nematode Research Group, enviroCORE, Department of Science and Health, Institute of Technology Carlow, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland; (A.P.); (A.E.); (A.K.)
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Herranz M, Park T, Di Domenico M, Leander BS, Sørensen MV, Worsaae K. Revisiting kinorhynch segmentation: variation of segmental patterns in the nervous system of three aberrant species. Front Zool 2021; 18:54. [PMID: 34674731 PMCID: PMC8529749 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-021-00438-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Kinorhynch segmentation differs from the patterns found in Chordata, Arthropoda and Annelida which have coeloms and circulatory systems. Due to these differences and their obsolete status as 'Aschelminthes', the microscopic kinorhynchs are often not acknowledged as segmented bilaterians. Yet, morphological studies have shown a conserved segmental arrangement of ectodermal and mesodermal organ systems with spatial correspondence along the anterior-posterior axis. However, a few aberrant kinorhynch lineages present a worm-like body plan with thin cuticle and less distinct segmentation, and thus their study may aid to shed new light on the evolution of segmental patterns within Kinorhyncha. RESULTS Here we found the nervous system in the aberrant Cateria styx and Franciscideres kalenesos to be clearly segmental, and similar to those of non-aberrant kinorhynchs; hereby not mirroring their otherwise aberrant and posteriorly shifted myoanatomy. In Zelinkaderes yong, however, the segmental arrangement of the nervous system is also shifted posteriorly and misaligned with respect to the cuticular segmentation. CONCLUSIONS The morphological disparity together with the distant phylogenetic positions of F. kalenesos, C. styx and Z. yong support a convergent origin of aberrant appearances and segmental mismatches within Kinorhyncha.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Herranz
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Taeseo Park
- National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Maikon Di Domenico
- Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Pontal do Paraná, Brazil
| | - Brian S Leander
- Departments of Zoology and Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Martin V Sørensen
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Katrine Worsaae
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Azevedo GHF, Bougie T, Carboni M, Hedin M, Ramírez MJ. Combining genomic, phenotypic and Sanger sequencing data to elucidate the phylogeny of the two-clawed spiders (Dionycha). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2021; 166:107327. [PMID: 34666169 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The importance of morphology in the phylogenomic era has recently gained attention, but relatively few studies have combined both types of information when inferring phylogenetic relationships. Sanger sequencing legacy data can also be important for understanding evolutionary relationships. The possibility of combining genomic, morphological and Sanger data in one analysis seems compelling, permitting a more complete sampling and yielding a comprehensive view of the evolution of a group. Here we used these three data types to elucidate the systematics and evolution of the Dionycha, a highly diverse group of spiders relatively underrepresented in phylogenetic studies. The datasets were analyzed separately and combined under different inference methods, including a novel approach for analyzing morphological matrices with commonly used evolutionary models. We tested alternative hypotheses of relationships and performed simulations to investigate the accuracy of our findings. We provide a comprehensive and thorough phylogenetic hypothesis for Dionycha that can serve as a robust framework to test hypotheses about the evolution of key characters. We also show that morphological data might have a phylogenetic impact, even when massively outweighed by molecular data. Our approach to analyze morphological data may serve as an alternative to the proposed practice of arbitrarily partitioning, weighting, and choosing between parsimony and stochastic models. As a result of our findings, we propose Trachycosmidae new rank for a group of Australian genera formerly included in Trochanteriidae and Gallieniellidae, and consider Ammoxenidae as a junior synonym of Gnaphosidae. We restore the family rank for Prodidomidae, but transfer the subfamily Molycriinae to Gnaphosidae. Drassinella is transferred to Liocranidae, Donuea to Corinnidae, and Mahafalytenus to Viridasiidae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme H F Azevedo
- Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"- CONICET, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires C1405DJR, Argentina; Dept of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, United States.
| | - Tierney Bougie
- Dept of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, United States; Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology Department, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
| | - Martin Carboni
- Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"- CONICET, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires C1405DJR, Argentina
| | - Marshal Hedin
- Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"- CONICET, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires C1405DJR, Argentina
| | - Martín J Ramírez
- Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"- CONICET, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires C1405DJR, Argentina
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Flores Francisco BG, Ponce IM, Plascencia Espinosa MÁ, Mendieta Moctezuma A, López Y López VE. Advances in the biological control of phytoparasitic nematodes via the use of nematophagous fungi. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 37:180. [PMID: 34562178 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-021-03151-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Agricultural production is one of most important activities for food supply and demand, that provides a source of raw materials, and generates commercial opportunities for other industries around the world. It may be both positively and negatively affected by climatic and biological factors. Negative biological factors are those caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites. Given the serious problems posed by phytoparasitic nematodes for farmers, causing crop losses globally every year, the agrochemical industry has developed compounds with the capacity to inhibit their development; however, they can cause the death of other beneficial organisms and their lixiviation can contaminate the water table. On the other hand, the positive biological factors are found in biotechnology, the scientific discipline that develops products, such as nematophagous fungi (of which Purpureocillium lilacinum and Pochonia chlamydosporia have the greatest potential), for the control of pests and/or diseases. The present review focuses on the importance of nematophagous fungi, particularly sedentary endoparasitic nematodes, their research on the development of biological control agents, the mass production of fungi Purpureocillium lilacinum and Pochonia chlamydosporia, and their limited commercialization due to the lack of rigorous methods that enable the anticipation of complex interactions between plant and phytopathogenic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Guadalupe Flores Francisco
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Aplicada del Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Laboratorio de Bioprocesos, Carretera Estatal Sta. Inés Tecuexcomac-Tepetitla, 90700, Tepetitla de Lardizábal, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Isabel Méndez Ponce
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Aplicada del Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Laboratorio de Bioprocesos, Carretera Estatal Sta. Inés Tecuexcomac-Tepetitla, 90700, Tepetitla de Lardizábal, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Miguel Ángel Plascencia Espinosa
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Aplicada del Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Laboratorio de Bioprocesos, Carretera Estatal Sta. Inés Tecuexcomac-Tepetitla, 90700, Tepetitla de Lardizábal, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Aarón Mendieta Moctezuma
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Aplicada del Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Laboratorio de Bioprocesos, Carretera Estatal Sta. Inés Tecuexcomac-Tepetitla, 90700, Tepetitla de Lardizábal, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Víctor Eric López Y López
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Aplicada del Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Laboratorio de Bioprocesos, Carretera Estatal Sta. Inés Tecuexcomac-Tepetitla, 90700, Tepetitla de Lardizábal, Tlaxcala, Mexico.
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Wang Y, Peng J, Wang D, Zhang H, Luo X, Shao Y, Sun Q, Ling C, Wang Q. Ontogenetic moulting behavior of the Cambrian oryctocephalid trilobite Arthricocephalites xinzhaiheensis. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12217. [PMID: 34631322 PMCID: PMC8465991 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12217] [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: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Moulting behaviors in trilobites are a crucial strategy during development. Previous studies have demonstrated inter-and intraspecific variability of moulting behavior in trilobites. Currently, ecdysial motifs for trilobites are considered not stable even within species and fewer detailed studies dealt with moulting behaviors in a single species of trilobite during development. Here a large sample of meraspid to holaspid exuviae of Arthricocephalites xinzhaiheensis (131 specimens) from the Cambrian Balang Formation of South China has allowed description of the reasonably complete ontogenic moulting sequence. Both ontogenetic stage and body size reveal gradual transition of configuration from Somersault configuration to Henningsmoen's configuration during development. Somersault configuration is exclusive till meraspid degree five and exists in subsequent growth stages. This suggests that opening of the facial and rostral sutures allowing the emergence forward of the post-ecdysial trilobite was prevalent in early growth stages. In later development, Henningsmoen's configuration (showing disarticulation of the cranidium) became more dominant. This study indicates that gradual transition of ontogenetic moulting behavior occurred in oryctocephalid trilobites in the early Cambrian.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Wang
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Jin Peng
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Dezhi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
- School of Geography and Resources, Guizhou Education University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Xiuchun Luo
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Yunbin Shao
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Quanyi Sun
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Chenchen Ling
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Qiujun Wang
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
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Blue mussels of the Mytilus edulis species complex from South America: The application of species delimitation models to DNA sequence variation. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0256961. [PMID: 34473778 PMCID: PMC8412288 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Smooth-shelled blue mussels, Mytilus spp., have a worldwide antitropical distribution and are ecologically and economically important. Mussels of the Mytilus edulis species complex have been the focus of numerous taxonomic and biogeographical studies, in particular in the Northern hemisphere, but the taxonomic classification of mussels from South America remains unclear. The present study analysed 348 mussels from 20 sites in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and the Falkland Islands on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South America. We sequenced two mitochondrial locus, Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I (625 bp) and 16S rDNA (443 bp), and one nuclear gene, ribosomal 18S rDNA (1770 bp). Mitochondrial and nuclear loci were analysed separately and in combination using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods to identify the combination of the most informative dataset and model. Species delimitation using five different models (GMYC single, bGMYC, PTP, bPTP and BPP) revealed that the Mytilus edulis complex in South America is represented by three species: native M. chilensis, M. edulis, and introduced Northern Hemisphere M. galloprovincialis. However, all models failed to delimit the putative species Mytilus platensis. In contrast, however, broad spatial scale genetic structure in South America using Geneland software to analyse COI sequence variation revealed a group of native mussels (putatively M. platensis) in central Argentina and the Falkland Islands. We discuss the scope of species delimitation methods and the use of nuclear and mitochondrial genetic data to the recognition of species within the Mytilus edulis complex at regional and global scales.
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