1
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Giraudeau M, Vincze O, Dupont SM, Sepp T, Baines C, Lemaitre JF, Lemberger K, Gentès S, Boddy A, Dujon AM, Bramwell G, Harris V, Ujvari B, Alix-Panabières C, Lair S, Sayag D, Conde DA, Colchero F, Harrison TM, Pavard S, Padilla-Morales B, Chevallier D, Hamede R, Roche B, Malkocs T, Aktipis AC, Maley C, DeGregori J, Le Loc'h G, Thomas F. Approaches and methods to study wildlife cancer. J Anim Ecol 2024. [PMID: 39189422 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
The last few years have seen a surge of interest from field ecologists and evolutionary biologists to study neoplasia and cancer in wildlife. This contributes to the One Health Approach, which investigates health issues at the intersection of people, wild and domestic animals, together with their changing environments. Nonetheless, the emerging field of wildlife cancer is currently constrained by methodological limitations in detecting cancer using non-invasive sampling. In addition, the suspected differential susceptibility and resistance of species to cancer often make the choice of a unique model species difficult for field biologists. Here, we provide an overview of the importance of pursuing the study of cancer in non-model organisms and we review the currently available methods to detect, measure and quantify cancer in the wild, as well as the methodological limitations to be overcome to develop novel approaches inspired by diagnostic techniques used in human medicine. The methodology we propose here will help understand and hopefully fight this major disease by generating general knowledge about cancer, variation in its rates, tumour-suppressor mechanisms across species as well as its link to life history and physiological characters. Moreover, this is expected to provide key information about cancer in wildlife, which is a top priority due to the accelerated anthropogenic change in the past decades that might favour cancer progression in wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Giraudeau
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
| | - Orsolya Vincze
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
- ImmunoConcEpT, CNRS UMR 5164, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Ecology Group, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- HUN-REN-DE Conservation Biology Research Group, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Sophie M Dupont
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
- Laboratoire de Biologie des ORganismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), FRE 2030, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, IRD, Sorbonne Université, Université de Caen Normandie, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| | - Tuul Sepp
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ciara Baines
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Jean-Francois Lemaitre
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive, CNRS, UMR5558, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | | | - Sophie Gentès
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
| | - Amy Boddy
- Department of Anthropology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Antoine M Dujon
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
- CREEC/CANECEV, MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224-CNRS5290-Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Georgina Bramwell
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Valerie Harris
- Arizona Cancer Evolution Center, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Beata Ujvari
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
- Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer, Montpellier, France
| | - Catherine Alix-Panabières
- Laboratory of Rare Human Circulating Cells (LCCRH), University Medical Centre of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Stephane Lair
- Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative/Centre québécois sur la santé des animaux sauvages, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
| | - David Sayag
- ONCOnseil-Unité d'expertise en oncologie vétérinaire, Toulouse, France
| | - Dalia A Conde
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
- Interdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Fernando Colchero
- Interdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
- Department of Primate Behavior and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Tara M Harrison
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Samuel Pavard
- Unité Eco-Anthropologie (EA), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS 7206, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Benjamin Padilla-Morales
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Damien Chevallier
- Laboratoire de Biologie des ORganismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), FRE 2030, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, IRD, Sorbonne Université, Université de Caen Normandie, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer, Montpellier, France
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Benjamin Roche
- CREEC/CANECEV, MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224-CNRS5290-Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Centre de Recherche en Écologie et Évolution de la Santé (CREES), Montpellier, France
- Departamento de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Tamas Malkocs
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, IUEM, Plouzane, France
| | - Athena C Aktipis
- Arizona Cancer Evolution Center, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Carlo Maley
- Arizona Cancer Evolution Center, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - James DeGregori
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Frédéric Thomas
- CREEC/CANECEV, MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224-CNRS5290-Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Centre de Recherche en Écologie et Évolution de la Santé (CREES), Montpellier, France
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2
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Wilkinson GS, Adams DM, Rayner JG. Sex, season, age and status influence urinary steroid hormone profiles in an extremely polygynous neotropical bat. Horm Behav 2024; 164:105606. [PMID: 39059233 PMCID: PMC11330717 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Several polygynous mammals exhibit reproductive skew in which only a few males reproduce. Successful males need strength, stamina and fighting ability to exclude competitors. Consequently, during the mating season their androgens and glucocorticoids are expected to increase to support spermatogenesis and aggressive behavior. But, during the nonmating season these hormones should decline to minimize deleterious effects, such as reduced immune function. Bats that exhibit harem polygyny in which males aggressively defend large groups of females year-round are ideal for assessing hormonal and other consequences of extreme polygyny. Here we use DNA methylation to estimate age and gas chromatography, tandem mass spectrometry to profile steroid metabolites in urine of wild greater spear-nosed bats, Phyllostomus hastatus, across seasons. We find that condition, measured by relative weight, is lower during the mating season for both sexes, although it remains high in harem males during the mating season. Average age of females is greater than males, and females exhibit substantial seasonal differences in androgens, estrogens and glucocorticoids with higher levels of all hormones during the mating season. Males, however, show little seasonal differences but substantial age-associated increases in most steroid metabolites. Harem males have larger, persistently scrotal testes and are older than bachelor males. While cortisone generally declines with age, harem males maintain higher amounts of biologically active cortisol than bachelor males all year and cortisol levels increase more quickly in response to restraint in males than in females. Taken together, these results suggest that attaining reproductive dominance requires hormone levels that reduce lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Danielle M Adams
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Jack G Rayner
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
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3
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Hieronymus TL, Waugh DA, Ball HC, Vinyard CJ, Galazyuk A, Cooper LN. Comparing age- and bone-related differences in collagen fiber orientation: A case study of bats and laboratory mice using quantitative polarized light microscopy. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2024; 307:2084-2102. [PMID: 38095113 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25368] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
As bones age in most mammals, they typically become more fragile. This state of bone fragility is often associated with more homogenous collagen fiber orientations (CFO). Unlike most mammals, bats maintain mechanically competent bone throughout their lifespans, but little is known of positional and age-related changes in CFO within wing bones. This study tests the hypothesis that age-related changes in CFO in big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) differ from those of the standard mammalian model for skeletal aging, the C57BL/6 laboratory mouse. We used data from quantitative polarized light microscopy (qPLM) to compare CFO across the lifespan of long-lived big brown bats and age matched C57BL/6 mice. Eptesicus and C57BL/6 mice displayed idiosyncratic patterns of CFO. Consistent age-related changes were only apparent in the outer cortical bone of Eptesicus, where bone tissue is more longitudinally arranged and more anisotropic in older individuals. Both taxa displayed a ring of more transversely oriented bone tissue surrounding the medullary cavity. In Eptesicus, this tissue represents a greater proportion of the overall cross-section, and is more clearly helically aligned (arranged at 45° to the bone long axis) than similar bone tissue in mice. Bat wing bones displayed a proximodistal gradient in CFO anisotropy and longitudinal orientation in both outer and inner cortical bone compartments. This study lays a methodological foundation for the quantitative evaluation of bone tissue architecture in volant and non-volant mammals that may be expanded in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobin Lee Hieronymus
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
- Musculoskeletal Research Focus Area, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
| | - David A Waugh
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
- Musculoskeletal Research Focus Area, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
| | - Hope C Ball
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
- Musculoskeletal Research Focus Area, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Alex Galazyuk
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
| | - Lisa Noelle Cooper
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
- Musculoskeletal Research Focus Area, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
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4
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Pio-Lopez L, Levin M. Aging as a loss of morphostatic information: A developmental bioelectricity perspective. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 97:102310. [PMID: 38636560 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102310] [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: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Maintaining order at the tissue level is crucial throughout the lifespan, as failure can lead to cancer and an accumulation of molecular and cellular disorders. Perhaps, the most consistent and pervasive result of these failures is aging, which is characterized by the progressive loss of function and decline in the ability to maintain anatomical homeostasis and reproduce. This leads to organ malfunction, diseases, and ultimately death. The traditional understanding of aging is that it is caused by the accumulation of molecular and cellular damage. In this article, we propose a complementary view of aging from the perspective of endogenous bioelectricity which has not yet been integrated into aging research. We propose a view of aging as a morphostasis defect, a loss of biophysical prepattern information, encoding anatomical setpoints used for dynamic tissue and organ homeostasis. We hypothesize that this is specifically driven by abrogation of the endogenous bioelectric signaling that normally harnesses individual cell behaviors toward the creation and upkeep of complex multicellular structures in vivo. Herein, we first describe bioelectricity as the physiological software of life, and then identify and discuss the links between bioelectricity and life extension strategies and age-related diseases. We develop a bridge between aging and regeneration via bioelectric signaling that suggests a research program for healthful longevity via morphoceuticals. Finally, we discuss the broader implications of the homologies between development, aging, cancer and regeneration and how morphoceuticals can be developed for aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léo Pio-Lopez
- Allen Discovery Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Michael Levin
- Allen Discovery Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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5
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MacDonald N, Raven N, Diep W, Evans S, Pannipitiya S, Bramwell G, Vanbeek C, Thomas F, Russell T, Dujon AM, Telonis-Scott M, Ujvari B. The molecular evolution of cancer associated genes in mammals. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11650. [PMID: 38773187 PMCID: PMC11109183 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62425-0] [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: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a disease that many multicellular organisms have faced for millions of years, and species have evolved various tumour suppression mechanisms to control oncogenesis. Although cancer occurs across the tree of life, cancer related mortality risks vary across mammalian orders, with Carnivorans particularly affected. Evolutionary theory predicts different selection pressures on genes associated with cancer progression and suppression, including oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes and immune genes. Therefore, we investigated the evolutionary history of cancer associated gene sequences across 384 mammalian taxa, to detect signatures of selection across categories of oncogenes (GRB2, FGL2 and CDC42), tumour suppressors (LITAF, Casp8 and BRCA2) and immune genes (IL2, CD274 and B2M). This approach allowed us to conduct a fine scale analysis of gene wide and site-specific signatures of selection across mammalian lineages under the lens of cancer susceptibility. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that for most species the evolution of cancer associated genes follows the species' evolution. The gene wide selection analyses revealed oncogenes being the most conserved, tumour suppressor and immune genes having similar amounts of episodic diversifying selection. Despite BRCA2's status as a key caretaker gene, episodic diversifying selection was detected across mammals. The site-specific selection analyses revealed that the two apoptosis associated domains of the Casp8 gene of bats (Chiroptera) are under opposing forces of selection (positive and negative respectively), highlighting the importance of site-specific selection analyses to understand the evolution of highly complex gene families. Our results highlighted the need to critically assess different types of selection pressure on cancer associated genes when investigating evolutionary adaptations to cancer across the tree of life. This study provides an extensive assessment of cancer associated genes in mammals with highly representative, and substantially large sample size for a comparative genomic analysis in the field and identifies various avenues for future research into the mechanisms of cancer resistance and susceptibility in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick MacDonald
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Nynke Raven
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Wendy Diep
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Samantha Evans
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Senuri Pannipitiya
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Georgina Bramwell
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Caitlin Vanbeek
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- CREEC, UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- MIVEGEC, IRD, CNRS, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Tracey Russell
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Antoine M Dujon
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Marina Telonis-Scott
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Beata Ujvari
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia.
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6
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Aubier TG, Galipaud M. Senescence evolution under the catastrophic accumulation of deleterious mutations. Evol Lett 2024; 8:212-221. [PMID: 38525026 PMCID: PMC10959475 DOI: 10.1093/evlett/qrad050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
For aging to evolve, selection against mortality must decrease with age. This prevailing view in the evolutionary theory of senescence posits that mutations with deleterious effects happening late in life-when purging selection is weak-may become fixed via genetic drift in the germline, and produce a senescent phenotype. Theory, however, has focused primarily on growing populations and the fate of single deleterious mutations. In a mathematical model, we demonstrate that relaxing both of these simplifying assumptions leads to unrealistic outcomes. In density-regulated populations, previously fixed deleterious mutations should promote the fixation of other deleterious mutations that lead to senescence at ever younger ages, until death necessarily occurs at sexual maturity. This sequential fixation of deleterious mutations is not promoted by a decrease in population size, but is due to a change in the strength of selection. In an individual-based model, we also show that such evolutionary dynamics should lead to the extinction of most populations. Our models therefore make rather unrealistic predictions, underlining the need for a reappraisal of current theories. In this respect, we have further assumed in our models that the deleterious effects of mutations can only occur at certain ages, marked, for instance, by somatic or physiological changes. Under this condition, we show that the catastrophic accumulation of deleterious mutations in the germline can stop. This new finding emphasizes the importance of investigating somatic factors, as well as other mechanisms underlying the deleterious effects of mutations, to understand senescence evolution. More generally, our model therefore establishes that patterns of senescence in nature depend not only on the decrease in selection strength with age but also on any mechanism that stops the catastrophic accumulation of mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G Aubier
- Laboratoire Évolution and Diversification Biologique, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, UMR 5174, CNRS/IRD, 31077 Toulouse, France
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Galipaud
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Swiss Data Science Center, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland
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7
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Jayne L, Lavin-Peter A, Roessler J, Tyshkovskiy A, Antoszewski M, Ren E, Markovski A, Sun S, Yao H, Sankaran VG, Gladyshev VN, Brooke RT, Horvath S, Griffith EC, Hrvatin S. A torpor-like state (TLS) in mice slows blood epigenetic aging and prolongs healthspan. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.20.585828. [PMID: 38585858 PMCID: PMC10996477 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.20.585828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Torpor and hibernation are extreme physiological adaptations of homeotherms associated with pro-longevity effects. Yet the underlying mechanisms of how torpor affects aging, and whether hypothermic and hypometabolic states can be induced to slow aging and increase health span, remain unknown. We demonstrate that the activity of a spatially defined neuronal population in the avMLPA, which has previously been identified as a torpor-regulating brain region, is sufficient to induce a torpor like state (TLS) in mice. Prolonged induction of TLS slows epigenetic aging across multiple tissues and improves health span. We isolate the effects of decreased metabolic rate, long-term caloric restriction, and decreased core body temperature (Tb) on blood epigenetic aging and find that the pro-longevity effect of torpor-like states is mediated by decreased Tb. Taken together, our findings provide novel mechanistic insight into the pro-longevity effects of torpor and hibernation and support the growing body of evidence that Tb is an important mediator of aging processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorna Jayne
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
- Present address: Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Aurora Lavin-Peter
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Julian Roessler
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Alexander Tyshkovskiy
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Mateusz Antoszewski
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Erika Ren
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Aleksandar Markovski
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Senmiao Sun
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
- Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hanqi Yao
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Vijay G. Sankaran
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Vadim N. Gladyshev
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Steve Horvath
- Epigenetic Clock Development Foundation, Torrance, CA, USA
- Altos Labs, Cambridge, UK
| | - Eric C. Griffith
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Sinisa Hrvatin
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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8
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Baid K, Irving AT, Jouvenet N, Banerjee A. The translational potential of studying bat immunity. Trends Immunol 2024; 45:188-197. [PMID: 38453577 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2024.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Molecular studies in bats have led to the discovery of antiviral adaptations that may explain how some bat species have evolved enhanced immune tolerance towards viruses. Accumulating data suggest that some bat species have also evolved remarkable features of longevity and low rates of cancer. Furthermore, recent research strongly suggests that discovering immune adaptations in bat models can be translated to develop immune modulators and recognize alternate therapeutic strategies for diseases affecting humans. We posit that research in bat immunology will lead to discoveries that can potentially be translated to improve health outcomes in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaushal Baid
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E3, Canada
| | - Aaron T Irving
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Studies, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang 314400, China; BIMET - Biomedical and Health Translational Research Centre of Zhejiang Province; College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL, UK
| | - Nolwenn Jouvenet
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3569, Virus Sensing and Signaling Unit, Paris, France
| | - Arinjay Banerjee
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E3, Canada; Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada; Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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9
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Torres JM, de Oliveira CE, Santos FM, Sano NY, Martinez ÉV, Alves FM, Tavares LER, Roque ALR, Jansen AM, Herrera HM. Trypanosomatid diversity in a bat community of an urban area in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2024; 118:105563. [PMID: 38301855 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2024.105563] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Bats have a long evolutionary history with trypanosomatids, but the role of these flying mammals on parasite transmission cycles in urban areas, especially for Trypanosoma and Leishmania species, remains poorly known. The objective of this study was to evaluate the species richness of trypanosomatids parasitizing a bat community in Campo Grande (CG), a state capital within the Cerrado of the Brazilian Midwest. We evaluated 237 bats of 13 species by means of hemoculture and molecular detection in spleen samples. The bat community of CG appears to participate in the transmission cycles of various species of trypanosomatids. We report an overall trypanosomatid detection rate of 34.2% (n = 81), involving 11 out of 13 sampled bat species. We identified six species of trypanosomatids from 61 bats by analyzing SSU rRNA and/or kDNA: Trypanosoma cruzi DTU TcI, T. c. marinkellei, T. dionisii, Leishmania infantum, L. amazonensis, and T. janseni, with this latter being detected by hemoculture for the first time in a bat species. We also detected a Molecular Operational Taxonomic Unit, Trypanosoma sp. DID, in the phyllostomids Glossophaga soricina and Platyrrhinus lineatus. The highest trypanosomatid richness was observed for Sturnira lilium, which hosted three species: L. infantum, T. dionisii and T. janseni. Given that visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in CG, special focus should be placed on L. infantum. Moreover, L. amazonensis and T. cruzi warrant attention, since these are zoonotic parasites responsible for human cases of tegumentary leishmaniasis and Chagas disease, respectively. In this respect, we discuss how bat communities may influence the Leishmania spp. transmission in endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaire Marinho Torres
- Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000 - Jardim Seminário, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | | | - Filipe Martins Santos
- Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000 - Jardim Seminário, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Nayara Yoshie Sano
- Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000 - Jardim Seminário, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Érica Verneque Martinez
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária, Av. Costa e Silva s/n - Pioneiros, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Moreira Alves
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanossomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, Manguinhos Rio de Janeiro 4365, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luiz Eduardo Roland Tavares
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária, Av. Costa e Silva s/n - Pioneiros, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - André Luiz Rodrigues Roque
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanossomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, Manguinhos Rio de Janeiro 4365, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Jansen
- Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000 - Jardim Seminário, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil; Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanossomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, Manguinhos Rio de Janeiro 4365, RJ, Brazil
| | - Heitor Miraglia Herrera
- Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000 - Jardim Seminário, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
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10
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Beetz MJ. A perspective on neuroethology: what the past teaches us about the future of neuroethology. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2024; 210:325-346. [PMID: 38411712 PMCID: PMC10995053 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-024-01695-5] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
For 100 years, the Journal of Comparative Physiology-A has significantly supported research in the field of neuroethology. The celebration of the journal's centennial is a great time point to appreciate the recent progress in neuroethology and to discuss possible avenues of the field. Animal behavior is the main source of inspiration for neuroethologists. This is illustrated by the huge diversity of investigated behaviors and species. To explain behavior at a mechanistic level, neuroethologists combine neuroscientific approaches with sophisticated behavioral analysis. The rapid technological progress in neuroscience makes neuroethology a highly dynamic and exciting field of research. To summarize the recent scientific progress in neuroethology, I went through all abstracts of the last six International Congresses for Neuroethology (ICNs 2010-2022) and categorized them based on the sensory modalities, experimental model species, and research topics. This highlights the diversity of neuroethology and gives us a perspective on the field's scientific future. At the end, I highlight three research topics that may, among others, influence the future of neuroethology. I hope that sharing my roots may inspire other scientists to follow neuroethological approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Jerome Beetz
- Zoology II, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.
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11
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Hua R, Ma YS, Yang L, Hao JJ, Hua QY, Shi LY, Yao XQ, Zhi HY, Liu Z. Experimental evidence for cancer resistance in a bat species. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1401. [PMID: 38360878 PMCID: PMC10869793 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45767-1] [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: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Mammals exhibit different rates of cancer, with long-lived species generally showing greater resistance. Although bats have been suggested to be resistant to cancer due to their longevity, this has yet to be systematically examined. Here, we investigate cancer resistance across seven bat species by activating oncogenic genes in their primary cells. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments suggest that Myotis pilosus (MPI) is particularly resistant to cancer. The transcriptomic and functional analyses reveal that the downregulation of three genes (HIF1A, COPS5, and RPS3) largely contributes to cancer resistance in MPI. Further, we identify the loss of a potential enhancer containing the HIF1A binding site upstream of COPS5 in MPI, resulting in the downregulation of COPS5. These findings not only provide direct experimental evidence for cancer resistance in a bat species but also offer insights into the natural mechanisms of cancer resistance in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan-Shuo Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jun-Jun Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Qin-Yang Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lu-Ye Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Xiao-Qing Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hao-Yu Zhi
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Information, Kunming, China.
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12
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Lu B. Evolutionary Insights into the Relationship of Frogs, Salamanders, and Caecilians and Their Adaptive Traits, with an Emphasis on Salamander Regeneration and Longevity. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3449. [PMID: 38003067 PMCID: PMC10668855 DOI: 10.3390/ani13223449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The extant amphibians have developed uncanny abilities to adapt to their environment. I compared the genes of amphibians to those of other vertebrates to investigate the genetic changes underlying their unique traits, especially salamanders' regeneration and longevity. Using the well-supported Batrachia tree, I found that salamander genomes have undergone accelerated adaptive evolution, especially for development-related genes. The group-based comparison showed that several genes are under positive selection, rapid evolution, and unexpected parallel evolution with traits shared by distantly related species, such as the tail-regenerative lizard and the longer-lived naked mole rat. The genes, such as EEF1E1, PAFAH1B1, and OGFR, may be involved in salamander regeneration, as they are involved in the apoptotic process, blastema formation, and cell proliferation, respectively. The genes PCNA and SIRT1 may be involved in extending lifespan, as they are involved in DNA repair and histone modification, respectively. Some genes, such as PCNA and OGFR, have dual roles in regeneration and aging, which suggests that these two processes are interconnected. My experiment validated the time course differential expression pattern of SERPINI1 and OGFR, two genes that have evolved in parallel in salamanders and lizards during the regeneration process of salamander limbs. In addition, I found several candidate genes responsible for frogs' frequent vocalization and caecilians' degenerative vision. This study provides much-needed insights into the processes of regeneration and aging, and the discovery of the critical genes paves the way for further functional analysis, which could open up new avenues for exploiting the genetic potential of humans and improving human well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Lu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
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13
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Hand SJ, Maugoust J, Beck RMD, Orliac MJ. A 50-million-year-old, three-dimensionally preserved bat skull supports an early origin for modern echolocation. Curr Biol 2023; 33:4624-4640.e21. [PMID: 37858341 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Bats are among the most recognizable, numerous, and widespread of all mammals. But much of their fossil record is missing, and bat origins remain poorly understood, as do the relationships of early to modern bats. Here, we describe a new early Eocene bat that helps bridge the gap between archaic stem bats and the hyperdiverse modern bat radiation of more than 1,460 living species. Recovered from ∼50 million-year-old cave sediments in the Quercy Phosphorites of southwestern France, Vielasia sigei's remains include a near-complete, three-dimensionally preserved skull-the oldest uncrushed bat cranium yet found. Phylogenetic analyses of a 2,665 craniodental character matrix, with and without 36.8 kb of DNA sequence data, place Vielasia outside modern bats, with total evidence tip-dating placing it sister to the crown clade. Vielasia retains the archaic dentition and skeletal features typical of early Eocene bats, but its inner ear shows specializations found in modern echolocating bats. These features, which include a petrosal only loosely attached to the basicranium, an expanded cochlea representing ∼25% basicranial width, and a long basilar membrane, collectively suggest that the kind of laryngeal echolocation used by most modern bats predates the crown radiation. At least 23 individuals of V. sigei are preserved together in a limestone cave deposit, indicating that cave roosting behavior had evolved in bats by the end of the early Eocene; this period saw the beginning of significant global climate cooling that may have been an evolutionary driver for bats to first congregate in caves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne J Hand
- ESSRC, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Jacob Maugoust
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, UMR 5554 CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Robin M D Beck
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK.
| | - Maeva J Orliac
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, UMR 5554 CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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14
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Jové M, Mota-Martorell N, Fernàndez-Bernal A, Portero-Otin M, Barja G, Pamplona R. Phenotypic molecular features of long-lived animal species. Free Radic Biol Med 2023; 208:728-747. [PMID: 37748717 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
One of the challenges facing science/biology today is uncovering the molecular bases that support and determine animal and human longevity. Nature, in offering a diversity of animal species that differ in longevity by more than 5 orders of magnitude, is the best 'experimental laboratory' to achieve this aim. Mammals, in particular, can differ by more than 200-fold in longevity. For this reason, most of the available evidence on this topic derives from comparative physiology studies. But why can human beings, for instance, reach 120 years whereas rats only last at best 4 years? How does nature change the longevity of species? Longevity is a species-specific feature resulting from an evolutionary process. Long-lived animal species, including humans, show adaptations at all levels of biological organization, from metabolites to genome, supported by signaling and regulatory networks. The structural and functional features that define a long-lived species may suggest that longevity is a programmed biological property.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariona Jové
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida), University of Lleida (UdL), E25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Natàlia Mota-Martorell
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida), University of Lleida (UdL), E25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Anna Fernàndez-Bernal
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida), University of Lleida (UdL), E25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Manuel Portero-Otin
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida), University of Lleida (UdL), E25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Gustavo Barja
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), E28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Reinald Pamplona
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida), University of Lleida (UdL), E25198, Lleida, Spain.
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15
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Li S, Vazquez JM, Sudmant PH. The evolution of aging and lifespan. Trends Genet 2023; 39:830-843. [PMID: 37714733 PMCID: PMC11147682 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Aging is a nearly inescapable trait among organisms yet lifespan varies tremendously across different species and spans several orders of magnitude in vertebrates alone. This vast phenotypic diversity is driven by distinct evolutionary trajectories and tradeoffs that are reflected in patterns of diversification and constraint in organismal genomes. Age-specific impacts of selection also shape allele frequencies in populations, thus impacting disease susceptibility and environment-specific mortality risk. Further, the mutational processes that spawn this genetic diversity in both germline and somatic cells are strongly influenced by age and life history. We discuss recent advances in our understanding of the evolution of aging and lifespan at organismal, population, and cellular scales, and highlight outstanding questions that remain unanswered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy Li
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA. USA
| | - Juan Manuel Vazquez
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Peter H Sudmant
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA. USA.
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16
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Power ML, Ransome RD, Riquier S, Romaine L, Jones G, Teeling EC. Hibernation telomere dynamics in a shifting climate: insights from wild greater horseshoe bats. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231589. [PMID: 37817598 PMCID: PMC10565397 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Hibernation is linked with various hypotheses to explain the extended lifespan of hibernating mammals compared with their non-hibernating counterparts. Studies on telomeres, markers of ageing and somatic maintenance, suggest telomere shortening slows during hibernation, and lengthening may reflect self-maintenance with favourable conditions. Bats in temperate zones adjust body temperatures during winter torpor to conserve energy and exploit mild conditions for foraging. Climate change may impact the hibernation cycle of bats, but more research is needed regarding the role of telomeres in understanding their response to a changing climate. Here, relative telomere length (rTL) was measured in the long-lived greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (n = 223 individuals) over three winters, considering climatic conditions. Cross-sectional analyses revealed between-individual variation in rTL with a strong year effect, likely linked to varying weather conditions and foraging success. Additionally, within-individual increases of rTL occurred in 51% of consecutive measurements, with evidence of increasing telomerase expression during hibernation in this species. These findings highlight the beneficial effects of hibernation on telomeres and potential consequences of changing climatic conditions for long-lived temperate bats. Understanding the interplay between hibernation, telomeres, and climate can provide insights into the adaptive capacity and survival of bat populations facing environmental challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Power
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
| | - Roger D Ransome
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Sébastien Riquier
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
| | - Luke Romaine
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Gareth Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Emma C Teeling
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
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17
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Huang Z, Jiang C, Gu J, Uvizl M, Power S, Douglas D, Kacprzyk J. Duplications of Human Longevity-Associated Genes Across Placental Mammals. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:evad186. [PMID: 37831410 PMCID: PMC10588791 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad186] [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: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural selection has shaped a wide range of lifespans across mammals, with a few long-lived species showing negligible signs of ageing. Approaches used to elucidate the genetic mechanisms underlying mammalian longevity usually involve phylogenetic selection tests on candidate genes, detections of convergent amino acid changes in long-lived lineages, analyses of differential gene expression between age cohorts or species, and measurements of age-related epigenetic changes. However, the link between gene duplication and evolution of mammalian longevity has not been widely investigated. Here, we explored the association between gene duplication and mammalian lifespan by analyzing 287 human longevity-associated genes across 37 placental mammals. We estimated that the expansion rate of these genes is eight times higher than their contraction rate across these 37 species. Using phylogenetic approaches, we identified 43 genes whose duplication levels are significantly correlated with longevity quotients (False Discovery Rate (FDR) < 0.05). In particular, the strong correlation observed for four genes (CREBBP, PIK3R1, HELLS, FOXM1) appears to be driven mainly by their high duplication levels in two ageing extremists, the naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) and the greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis). Further sequence and expression analyses suggest that the gene PIK3R1 may have undergone a convergent duplication event, whereby the similar region of its coding sequence was independently duplicated multiple times in both of these long-lived species. Collectively, this study identified several candidate genes whose duplications may underlie the extreme longevity in mammals, and highlighted the potential role of gene duplication in the evolution of mammalian long lifespans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixia Huang
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Chongyi Jiang
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Jiayun Gu
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Marek Uvizl
- Department of Zoology, National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Sarahjane Power
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Declan Douglas
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Joanna Kacprzyk
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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18
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Scheben A, Mendivil Ramos O, Kramer M, Goodwin S, Oppenheim S, Becker DJ, Schatz MC, Simmons NB, Siepel A, McCombie WR. Long-Read Sequencing Reveals Rapid Evolution of Immunity- and Cancer-Related Genes in Bats. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:evad148. [PMID: 37728212 PMCID: PMC10510315 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Bats are exceptional among mammals for their powered flight, extended lifespans, and robust immune systems and therefore have been of particular interest in comparative genomics. Using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-read platform, we sequenced the genomes of two bat species with key phylogenetic positions, the Jamaican fruit bat (Artibeus jamaicensis) and the Mesoamerican mustached bat (Pteronotus mesoamericanus), and carried out a comprehensive comparative genomic analysis with a diverse collection of bats and other mammals. The high-quality, long-read genome assemblies revealed a contraction of interferon (IFN)-α at the immunity-related type I IFN locus in bats, resulting in a shift in relative IFN-ω and IFN-α copy numbers. Contradicting previous hypotheses of constitutive expression of IFN-α being a feature of the bat immune system, three bat species lost all IFN-α genes. This shift to IFN-ω could contribute to the increased viral tolerance that has made bats a common reservoir for viruses that can be transmitted to humans. Antiviral genes stimulated by type I IFNs also showed evidence of rapid evolution, including a lineage-specific duplication of IFN-induced transmembrane genes and positive selection in IFIT2. In addition, 33 tumor suppressors and 6 DNA-repair genes showed signs of positive selection, perhaps contributing to increased longevity and reduced cancer rates in bats. The robust immune systems of bats rely on both bat-wide and lineage-specific evolution in the immune gene repertoire, suggesting diverse immune strategies. Our study provides new genomic resources for bats and sheds new light on the extraordinary molecular evolution in this critically important group of mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armin Scheben
- Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
| | | | - Melissa Kramer
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
| | - Sara Goodwin
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
| | - Sara Oppenheim
- American Museum of Natural History, Institute for Comparative Genomics, New York, New York, USA
| | - Daniel J Becker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Michael C Schatz
- Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
- Departments of Computer Science and Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Nancy B Simmons
- Department of Mammalogy, Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, USA
| | - Adam Siepel
- Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
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19
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Brook CE, Rozins C, Guth S, Boots M. Reservoir host immunology and life history shape virulence evolution in zoonotic viruses. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002268. [PMID: 37676899 PMCID: PMC10484437 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The management of future pandemic risk requires a better understanding of the mechanisms that determine the virulence of emerging zoonotic viruses. Meta-analyses suggest that the virulence of emerging zoonoses is correlated with but not completely predictable from reservoir host phylogeny, indicating that specific characteristics of reservoir host immunology and life history may drive the evolution of viral traits responsible for cross-species virulence. In particular, bats host viruses that cause higher case fatality rates upon spillover to humans than those derived from any other mammal, a phenomenon that cannot be explained by phylogenetic distance alone. In order to disentangle the fundamental drivers of these patterns, we develop a nested modeling framework that highlights mechanisms that underpin the evolution of viral traits in reservoir hosts that cause virulence following cross-species emergence. We apply this framework to generate virulence predictions for viral zoonoses derived from diverse mammalian reservoirs, recapturing trends in virus-induced human mortality rates reported in the literature. Notably, our work offers a mechanistic hypothesis to explain the extreme virulence of bat-borne zoonoses and, more generally, demonstrates how key differences in reservoir host longevity, viral tolerance, and constitutive immunity impact the evolution of viral traits that cause virulence following spillover to humans. Our theoretical framework offers a series of testable questions and predictions designed to stimulate future work comparing cross-species virulence evolution in zoonotic viruses derived from diverse mammalian hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara E. Brook
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Carly Rozins
- Department of Science, Technology, and Society, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sarah Guth
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Mike Boots
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
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20
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Jacobs PJ, Hart DW, Merchant HN, Voigt C, Bennett NC. The Evolution and Ecology of Oxidative and Antioxidant Status: A Comparative Approach in African Mole-Rats. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1486. [PMID: 37627481 PMCID: PMC10451868 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12081486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The naked mole-rat of the family Bathyergidae has been the showpiece for ageing research as they contradict the traditional understanding of the oxidative stress theory of ageing. Some other bathyergids also possess increased lifespans, but there has been a remarkable lack of comparison between species within the family Bathyergidae. This study set out to investigate how plasma oxidative markers (total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and the oxidative stress index (OSI)) differ between five species and three subspecies of bathyergids, differing in their maximum lifespan potential (MLSP), resting metabolic rate, aridity index (AI), and sociality. We also investigated how oxidative markers may differ between captive and wild-caught mole-rats. Our results reveal that increased TOS, TAC, and OSI are associated with increased MLSP. This pattern is more prevalent in the social-living species than the solitary-living species. We also found that oxidative variables decreased with an increasing AI and that wild-caught individuals typically have higher antioxidants. We speculate that the correlation between higher oxidative markers and MLSP is due to the hypoxia-tolerance of the mole-rats investigated. Hormesis (the biphasic response to oxidative stress promoting protection) is a likely mechanism behind the increased oxidative markers observed and promotes longevity in some members of the Bathyergidae family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul. J. Jacobs
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa;
| | - Daniel W. Hart
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa;
| | - Hana N. Merchant
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham Hill, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK;
| | - Cornelia Voigt
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; (C.V.); (N.C.B.)
| | - Nigel C. Bennett
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; (C.V.); (N.C.B.)
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21
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Lidsky PV, Yuan J, Andino R. Reconsidering life history theory amid infectious diseases. Trends Ecol Evol 2023:S0169-5347(23)00127-1. [PMID: 37236881 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter V Lidsky
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Jing Yuan
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Raul Andino
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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22
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Déjosez M, Marin A, Hughes GM, Morales AE, Godoy-Parejo C, Gray JL, Qin Y, Singh AA, Xu H, Juste J, Ibáñez C, White KM, Rosales R, Francoeur NJ, Sebra RP, Alcock D, Volkert TL, Puechmaille SJ, Pastusiak A, Frost SDW, Hiller M, Young RA, Teeling EC, García-Sastre A, Zwaka TP. Bat pluripotent stem cells reveal unusual entanglement between host and viruses. Cell 2023; 186:957-974.e28. [PMID: 36812912 PMCID: PMC10085545 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Bats are distinctive among mammals due to their ability to fly, use laryngeal echolocation, and tolerate viruses. However, there are currently no reliable cellular models for studying bat biology or their response to viral infections. Here, we created induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from two species of bats: the wild greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) and the greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis). The iPSCs from both bat species showed similar characteristics and had a gene expression profile resembling that of cells attacked by viruses. They also had a high number of endogenous viral sequences, particularly retroviruses. These results suggest that bats have evolved mechanisms to tolerate a large load of viral sequences and may have a more intertwined relationship with viruses than previously thought. Further study of bat iPSCs and their differentiated progeny will provide insights into bat biology, virus host relationships, and the molecular basis of bats' special traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Déjosez
- Huffington Center for Cell-Based Research in Parkinson's disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10502, USA; Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, and Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10502, USA; Paratus Sciences, 430 East 29th Street, Suite 600, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Arturo Marin
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Graham M Hughes
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ariadna E Morales
- Senckenberg Research Institute, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Carlos Godoy-Parejo
- Huffington Center for Cell-Based Research in Parkinson's disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10502, USA; Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, and Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10502, USA
| | - Jonathan L Gray
- Huffington Center for Cell-Based Research in Parkinson's disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10502, USA; Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, and Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10502, USA
| | - Yiren Qin
- Huffington Center for Cell-Based Research in Parkinson's disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10502, USA; Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, and Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10502, USA
| | - Arun A Singh
- Huffington Center for Cell-Based Research in Parkinson's disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10502, USA; Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, and Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10502, USA
| | - Hui Xu
- Huffington Center for Cell-Based Research in Parkinson's disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10502, USA; Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, and Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10502, USA
| | - Javier Juste
- Estación biológica de doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, Seville 41092, Spain; CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health, CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Ibáñez
- Estación biológica de doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, Seville 41092, Spain
| | - Kris M White
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Romel Rosales
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | | | - Robert P Sebra
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Icahn Institute for Genomics, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dominic Alcock
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Thomas L Volkert
- Paratus Sciences, 430 East 29th Street, Suite 600, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | | | - Andrzej Pastusiak
- Microsoft Premonition, Microsoft Building 99, 14820 NE 36th Street, Redmond, WA 98052, USA
| | - Simon D W Frost
- Microsoft Premonition, Microsoft Building 99, 14820 NE 36th Street, Redmond, WA 98052, USA; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Michael Hiller
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany; Senckenberg Research Institute, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Richard A Young
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Emma C Teeling
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Adolfo García-Sastre
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine and the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - Thomas P Zwaka
- Huffington Center for Cell-Based Research in Parkinson's disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10502, USA; Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, and Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10502, USA; Paratus Sciences, 430 East 29th Street, Suite 600, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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23
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Bernal-Rivera A, Cuellar-Valencia OM, Calvache-Sánchez C, Murillo-García OE. Morphological, Anatomical, and Physiological Signs of Senescence in the Great Fruit-Eating Bat (Artibeus lituratus). ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2023. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2022.24.2.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bernal-Rivera
- Grupo de Investigación en Ecología Animal, Departamento de Biología, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Oscar M. Cuellar-Valencia
- Calima, Fundación para la Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Conservación en el Trópico, Cali, Colombia
| | - Cristian Calvache-Sánchez
- Grupo de Investigación en Ecología Animal, Departamento de Biología, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Oscar E. Murillo-García
- Grupo de Investigación en Ecología Animal, Departamento de Biología, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
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24
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Mota-Martorell N, Jové M, Berdún R, Òbis È, Barja G, Pamplona R. Methionine Metabolism Is Down-Regulated in Heart of Long-Lived Mammals. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11121821. [PMID: 36552330 PMCID: PMC9775425 DOI: 10.3390/biology11121821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Methionine constitutes a central hub of intracellular metabolic adaptations leading to an extended longevity (maximum lifespan). The present study follows a comparative approach analyzing methionine and related metabolite and amino acid profiles using an LC-MS/MS platform in the hearts of seven mammalian species with a longevity ranging from 3.8 to 57 years. Our findings demonstrate the existence of species-specific heart phenotypes associated with high longevity characterized by: (i) low concentration of methionine and its related sulphur-containing metabolites; (ii) low amino acid pool; and (iii) low choline concentration. Our results support the existence of heart metabotypes characterized by a down-regulation in long-lived species, supporting the idea that in longevity, less is more.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Mota-Martorell
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Lleida-Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (UdL-IRBLleida), 25008 Lleida, Spain
| | - Mariona Jové
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Lleida-Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (UdL-IRBLleida), 25008 Lleida, Spain
| | - Rebeca Berdún
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Lleida-Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (UdL-IRBLleida), 25008 Lleida, Spain
| | - Èlia Òbis
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Lleida-Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (UdL-IRBLleida), 25008 Lleida, Spain
| | - Gustavo Barja
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Reinald Pamplona
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Lleida-Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (UdL-IRBLleida), 25008 Lleida, Spain
- Correspondence:
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25
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Power ML, Foley NM, Jones G, Teeling EC. Taking flight: An ecological, evolutionary and genomic perspective on bat telomeres. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6053-6068. [PMID: 34387012 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Over 20% of all living mammals are bats (order Chiroptera). Bats possess extraordinary adaptations including powered flight, laryngeal echolocation and a unique immune system that enables them to tolerate a diversity of viral infections without presenting clinical disease symptoms. They occupy multiple trophic niches and environments globally. Significant physiological and ecological diversity occurs across the order. Bats also exhibit extreme longevity given their body size with many species showing few signs of ageing. The molecular basis of this extended longevity has recently attracted attention. Telomere maintenance potentially underpins bats' extended healthspan, although functional studies are still required to validate the causative mechanisms. In this review, we detail the current knowledge on bat telomeres, telomerase expression, and how these relate to ecology, longevity and life-history strategies. Patterns of telomere shortening and telomerase expression vary across species, and comparative genomic analyses suggest that alternative telomere maintenance mechanisms evolved in the longest-lived bats. We discuss the unique challenges faced when working with populations of wild bats and highlight ways to advance the field including expanding long-term monitoring across species that display contrasting life-histories and occupy different environmental niches. We further review how new high quality, chromosome-level genome assemblies can enable us to uncover the molecular mechanisms governing telomere dynamics and how phylogenomic analyses can reveal the adaptive significance of telomere maintenance and variation in bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Power
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Ireland
| | - Nicole M Foley
- Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Gareth Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Emma C Teeling
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Ireland
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26
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Lidsky PV, Yuan J, Rulison JM, Andino-Pavlovsky R. Is Aging an Inevitable Characteristic of Organic Life or an Evolutionary Adaptation? BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2022; 87:1413-1445. [PMID: 36717438 PMCID: PMC9839256 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297922120021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Aging is an evolutionary paradox. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain it, but none fully explains all the biochemical and ecologic data accumulated over decades of research. We suggest that senescence is a primitive immune strategy which acts to protect an individual's kin from chronic infections. Older organisms are exposed to pathogens for a longer period of time and have a higher likelihood of acquiring infectious diseases. Accordingly, the parasitic load in aged individuals is higher than in younger ones. Given that the probability of pathogen transmission is higher within the kin, the inclusive fitness cost of infection might exceed the benefit of living longer. In this case, programmed lifespan termination might be an evolutionarily stable strategy. Here, we discuss the classical evolutionary hypotheses of aging and compare them with the pathogen control hypothesis, discuss the consistency of these hypotheses with existing empirical data, and present a revised conceptual framework to understand the evolution of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter V Lidsky
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Jing Yuan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jacob M Rulison
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA
- University of California Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Raul Andino-Pavlovsky
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA.
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27
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Shilovsky GA, Putyatina TS, Markov AV. Evolution of Longevity as a Species-Specific Trait in Mammals. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2022; 87:1579-1599. [PMID: 36717448 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297922120148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
From the evolutionary point of view, the priority problem for an individual is not longevity, but adaptation to the environment associated with the need for survival, food supply, and reproduction. We see two main vectors in the evolution of mammals. One is a short lifespan and numerous offspring ensuring reproductive success (r-strategy). The other one is development of valuable skills in order compete successfully (K-strategy). Species with the K-strategy should develop and enhance specific systems (anti-aging programs) aimed at increasing the reliability and adaptability, including lifespan. These systems are signaling cascades that provide cell repair and antioxidant defense. Hence, any arbitrarily selected long-living species should be characterized by manifestation to a different extent of the longevity-favoring traits (e.g., body size, brain development, sociality, activity of body repair and antioxidant defense systems, resistance to xenobiotics and tumor formation, presence of neotenic traits). Hereafter, we will call a set of such traits as the gerontological success of a species. Longevity is not equivalent to the evolutionary or reproductive success. This difference between these phenomena reaches its peak in mammals due to the development of endothermy and cephalization associated with the cerebral cortex expansion, which leads to the upregulated production of oxidative radicals by the mitochondria (and, consequently, accelerated aging), increase in the number of non-dividing differentiated cells, accumulation of the age-related damage in these cells, and development of neurodegenerative diseases. The article presents mathematical indicators used to assess the predisposition to longevity in different species (including the standard mortality rate and basal metabolic rate, as well as their derivatives). The properties of the evolution of mammals (including the differences between modern mammals and their ancestral forms) are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A Shilovsky
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia. .,Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 127051, Russia
| | - Tatyana S Putyatina
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia
| | - Alexander V Markov
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia
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28
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Virus Diversity, Abundance, and Evolution in Three Different Bat Colonies in Switzerland. Viruses 2022; 14:v14091911. [PMID: 36146717 PMCID: PMC9505930 DOI: 10.3390/v14091911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bats are increasingly recognized as reservoirs for many different viruses that threaten public health, such as Hendravirus, Ebolavirus, Nipahvirus, and SARS- and MERS-coronavirus. To assess spillover risk, viromes of bats from different parts of the world have been investigated in the past. As opposed to most of these prior studies, which determined the bat virome at a single time point, the current work was performed to monitor changes over time. Specifically, fecal samples of three endemic Swiss bat colonies consisting of three different bat species were collected over three years and analyzed using next-generation sequencing. Furthermore, single nucleotide variants of selected DNA and RNA viruses were analyzed to investigate virus genome evolution. In total, sequences of 22 different virus families were found, of which 13 are known to infect vertebrates. Most interestingly, in a Vespertilio murinus colony, sequences from a MERS-related beta-coronavirus were consistently detected over three consecutive years, which allowed us to investigate viral genome evolution in a natural reservoir host.
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29
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Abstract
Bats perform important ecological roles in our ecosystem. However, recent studies have demonstrated that bats are reservoirs of emerging viruses that have spilled over into humans and agricultural animals to cause severe diseases. These viruses include Hendra and Nipah paramyxoviruses, Ebola and Marburg filoviruses, and coronaviruses that are closely related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and the recently emerged SARS-CoV-2. Intriguingly, bats that are naturally or experimentally infected with these viruses do not show clinical signs of disease. Here we have reviewed ecological, behavioral, and molecular factors that may influence the ability of bats to harbor viruses. We have summarized known zoonotic potential of bat-borne viruses and stress on the need for further studies to better understand the evolutionary relationship between bats and their viruses, along with discovering the intrinsic and external factors that facilitate the successful spillover of viruses from bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Gonzalez
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E3, Canada
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Arinjay Banerjee
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E3, Canada
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
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30
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Sullivan IR, Adams DM, Greville LJS, Faure PA, Wilkinson GS. Big brown bats experience slower epigenetic ageing during hibernation. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220635. [PMID: 35946154 PMCID: PMC9364000 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparative analyses of bats indicate that hibernation is associated with increased longevity among species. However, it is not yet known if hibernation affects biological ageing of individuals. Here, we use DNA methylation (DNAm) as an epigenetic biomarker of ageing to determine the effect of hibernation on the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus. First, we compare epigenetic age, as predicted by a multi-species epigenetic clock, between hibernating and non-hibernating animals and find that hibernation is associated with epigenetic age. Second, we identify genomic sites that exhibit hibernation-associated change in DNAm, independent of age, by comparing samples taken from the same individual in hibernating and active seasons. This paired comparison identified over 3000 differentially methylated positions (DMPs) in the genome. Genome-wide association comparisons to tissue-specific functional elements reveals that DMPs with elevated DNAm during winter occur at sites enriched for quiescent chromatin states, whereas DMPs with reduced DNAm during winter occur at sites enriched for transcription enhancers. Furthermore, genes nearest DMPs are involved in regulation of metabolic processes and innate immunity. Finally, significant overlap exists between genes nearest hibernation DMPs and genes nearest previously identified longevity DMPs. Taken together, these results are consistent with hibernation influencing ageing and longevity in bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel R. Sullivan
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Danielle M. Adams
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA,Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA
| | - Lucas J. S. Greville
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4K1,Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada N3 L 3G1
| | - Paul A. Faure
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4K1
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31
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Nair NU, Cheng K, Naddaf L, Sharon E, Pal LR, Rajagopal PS, Unterman I, Aldape K, Hannenhalli S, Day CP, Tabach Y, Ruppin E. Cross-species identification of cancer resistance-associated genes that may mediate human cancer risk. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabj7176. [PMID: 35921407 PMCID: PMC9348801 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj7176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a predominant disease across animals. We applied a comparative genomics approach to systematically characterize genes whose conservation levels correlate positively (PC) or negatively (NC) with cancer resistance estimates across 193 vertebrates. Pathway analysis reveals that NC genes are enriched for metabolic functions and PC genes in cell cycle regulation, DNA repair, and immune response, pointing to their corresponding roles in mediating cancer risk. We find that PC genes are less tolerant to loss-of-function (LoF) mutations, are enriched in cancer driver genes, and are associated with germline mutations that increase human cancer risk. Their relevance to cancer risk is further supported via the analysis of mouse functional genomics and cancer mortality of zoo mammals' data. In sum, our study describes a cross-species genomic analysis pointing to candidate genes that may mediate human cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishanth Ulhas Nair
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory (CDSL), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
- Corresponding author. (N.U.N.); (K.C.); (Y.T.); (E.R.)
| | - Kuoyuan Cheng
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory (CDSL), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Corresponding author. (N.U.N.); (K.C.); (Y.T.); (E.R.)
| | - Lamis Naddaf
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute of Medical Research–Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Elad Sharon
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute of Medical Research–Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Lipika R. Pal
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory (CDSL), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Padma S. Rajagopal
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory (CDSL), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Irene Unterman
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute of Medical Research–Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Kenneth Aldape
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sridhar Hannenhalli
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory (CDSL), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Chi-Ping Day
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yuval Tabach
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute of Medical Research–Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
- Corresponding author. (N.U.N.); (K.C.); (Y.T.); (E.R.)
| | - Eytan Ruppin
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory (CDSL), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
- Corresponding author. (N.U.N.); (K.C.); (Y.T.); (E.R.)
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32
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Stark G. Large and expensive brain comes with a short lifespan: The relationship between brain size and longevity among fish taxa. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2022; 101:92-99. [PMID: 35482011 PMCID: PMC9544989 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Vertebrates show substantial interspecific variation in brain size in relation to body mass. It has long been recognized that the evolution of large brains is associated with both costs and benefits, and it is their net benefit which should be favoured by natural selection. On one hand, the substantial energetic cost imposed by the maintenance of neural tissue is expected to compromise the energetic budget of organisms with large brains and their investment in other critical organs (expensive brain framework, EBF) or important physiological process, such as somatic maintenance and repair, thus accelerating ageing that shortens lifespan, as predicted by the disposable soma theory (DST). However, selection towards larger brain size can provide cognitive benefits (e.g., high behavioural flexibility) that may mitigate extrinsic mortality pressures, and thus may indirectly select for slower ageing that prolongs lifespan, as predicted by the cognitive buffer hypothesis (CBH). The relationship between longevity and brain size has been investigated to date only among terrestrial vertebrates, although the same selective forces acting on those species may also affect vertebrates living in aquatic habitats, such as fish. Thus, whether this evolutionary trade-off for brain size and longevity exists on a large scale among fish clades remains to be addressed. In this study, using a global dataset of 407 fish species, I undertook the first phylogenetic test of the brain size/longevity relationship in aquatic vertebrate species. The study revealed a negative relationship between brain size and longevity among cartilaginous fish confirming EBF and DST. However, no pattern emerged among bony fish species. Among sharks and rays, the high metabolic cost of producing neural tissue transcends the cognitive benefits of evolving a larger brain. Consequently, my findings suggest that the cost of maintaining brain tissue is relatively higher in ectothermic species than in endothermic ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin Stark
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life SciencesTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
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Vischioni C, Bove F, De Chiara M, Mandreoli F, Martoglia R, Pisi V, Liti G, Taccioli C. miRNAs Copy Number Variations Repertoire as Hallmark Indicator of Cancer Species Predisposition. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:1046. [PMID: 35741808 PMCID: PMC9223155 DOI: 10.3390/genes13061046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is one of the hallmarks of multiple human diseases, including cancer. We hypothesized that variations in the number of copies (CNVs) of specific genes may protect some long-living organisms theoretically more susceptible to tumorigenesis from the onset of cancer. Based on the statistical comparison of gene copy numbers within the genomes of both cancer-prone and -resistant species, we identified novel gene targets linked to tumor predisposition, such as CD52, SAT1 and SUMO. Moreover, considering their genome-wide copy number landscape, we discovered that microRNAs (miRNAs) are among the most significant gene families enriched for cancer progression and predisposition. Through bioinformatics analyses, we identified several alterations in miRNAs copy number patterns, involving miR-221, miR-222, miR-21, miR-372, miR-30b, miR-30d and miR-31, among others. Therefore, our analyses provide the first evidence that an altered miRNAs copy number signature can statistically discriminate species more susceptible to cancer from those that are tumor resistant, paving the way for further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Vischioni
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Italy;
- IRCAN, CNRS, INSERM, Université Côte d’Azur, 06107 Nice, France; (M.D.C.); (G.L.)
| | - Fabio Bove
- Department of Physics, Informatics and Mathematics, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (F.B.); (F.M.); (R.M.); (V.P.)
| | - Matteo De Chiara
- IRCAN, CNRS, INSERM, Université Côte d’Azur, 06107 Nice, France; (M.D.C.); (G.L.)
| | - Federica Mandreoli
- Department of Physics, Informatics and Mathematics, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (F.B.); (F.M.); (R.M.); (V.P.)
| | - Riccardo Martoglia
- Department of Physics, Informatics and Mathematics, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (F.B.); (F.M.); (R.M.); (V.P.)
| | - Valentino Pisi
- Department of Physics, Informatics and Mathematics, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (F.B.); (F.M.); (R.M.); (V.P.)
| | - Gianni Liti
- IRCAN, CNRS, INSERM, Université Côte d’Azur, 06107 Nice, France; (M.D.C.); (G.L.)
| | - Cristian Taccioli
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Italy;
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34
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Lunghi E, Bilandžija H. Longevity in Cave Animals. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.874123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
An extraordinary longevity has been observed in some cave species, and this raised the hypothesis that a longer lifespan may be considered one of the characteristic traits of these animals. However, only a few cave species have been studied thus far, and a firm conclusion remains to be drawn. Here we review the available knowledge on the longevity of subterranean species, point out the limitations of previous studies, and provide suggestions for future studies to answer important questions regarding the longevity in cave animals, its adaptive value and the related promoting factors. We also argue that studying the longevity in cave animals will contribute to the field of aging, especially to understanding the evolution of this phenomenon.
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35
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Novel passive detection approach reveals low breeding season survival and apparent lactation cost in a critically endangered cave bat. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7390. [PMID: 35513411 PMCID: PMC9072322 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11404-4] [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: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Capture-mark-recapture/resight (CMR) methods are used for survival-rate studies, yet are often limited by small sample sizes. Advances in passive integrated transponder (PIT) technology have enabled passive detection or ‘resight’ of marked individuals using large antennas with greater read-ranges than previously possible. We used passively-detected resight data and CMR models to study survival rates of the southern bent-winged bat Miniopterus orianae bassanii, a critically endangered, cave-dwelling bat. Over three years, we used PIT-tagging to monitor 2966 individuals at the species’ largest breeding aggregation, using daily detection data (> 1.6 million detections) to estimate seasonal survival probabilities, structured by age, sex and reproductive status, and parameterise population projection matrices. This has hitherto been impossible using traditional CMR methods due to disturbance risk and low recapture rates. Bats exhibited lowest apparent seasonal survival over summer and autumn, particularly for reproductive females in summer (when lactating) and juveniles in autumn (after weaning), and high survival in winter. Lowest survival rates coincided with severe drought in summer–autumn 2016, suggesting that dry conditions affect population viability. Under all likely demographic assumptions, population projection matrices suggested the population is in deterministic decline, requiring urgent action to reduce extinction risk. Passively-collected resight data can now be used in combination with CMR models to provide extensive, robust information for targeted wildlife population management.
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36
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Immunity and lifespan: answering long-standing questions with comparative genomics. Trends Genet 2022; 38:650-661. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Hibernation slows epigenetic ageing in yellow-bellied marmots. Nat Ecol Evol 2022; 6:418-426. [PMID: 35256811 PMCID: PMC8986532 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01679-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Species that hibernate generally live longer than would be expected based solely on their body size. Hibernation is characterized by long periods of metabolic suppression (torpor) interspersed by short periods of increased metabolism (arousal). The torpor–arousal cycles occur multiple times during hibernation, and it has been suggested that processes controlling the transition between torpor and arousal states cause ageing suppression. Metabolic rate is also a known correlate of longevity; we thus proposed the ‘hibernation–ageing hypothesis’ whereby ageing is suspended during hibernation. We tested this hypothesis in a well-studied population of yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventer), which spend 7–8 months per year hibernating. We used two approaches to estimate epigenetic age: the epigenetic clock and the epigenetic pacemaker. Variation in epigenetic age of 149 samples collected throughout the life of 73 females was modelled using generalized additive mixed models (GAMM), where season (cyclic cubic spline) and chronological age (cubic spline) were fixed effects. As expected, the GAMM using epigenetic ages calculated from the epigenetic pacemaker was better able to detect nonlinear patterns in epigenetic ageing over time. We observed a logarithmic curve of epigenetic age with time, where the epigenetic age increased at a higher rate until females reached sexual maturity (two years old). With respect to circannual patterns, the epigenetic age increased during the active season and essentially stalled during the hibernation period. Taken together, our results are consistent with the hibernation–ageing hypothesis and may explain the enhanced longevity in hibernators. Species that hibernate generally have longer lifespans than expected based on their body size. The authors show epigenetic ageing patterns from a natural population of hibernating yellow-bellied marmots consistent with the hypothesis that ageing is suspended during hibernation.
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38
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The biology of beauty sleep. Nat Ecol Evol 2022; 6:351-352. [PMID: 35256810 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01683-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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39
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The Evolution of Brain Size in Ectothermic Tetrapods: Large Brain Mass Trades-Off with Lifespan in Reptiles. Evol Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11692-022-09562-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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40
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Beatty A, Rubin AM, Wada H, Heidinger B, Hood WR, Schwartz TS. Postnatal expression of IGF2 is the norm in amniote vertebrates. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212278. [PMID: 35193406 PMCID: PMC8864354 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The insulin and insulin-like signalling (IIS) network plays an important role in mediating several life-history traits, including growth, reproduction and senescence. Although insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) 1 and 2 are both key hormones in the vertebrate IIS network, research on IGF2 in juveniles and adults has been largely neglected because early biomedical research on rodents found negligible IGF2 postnatal expression. Here, we challenge this assumption and ask to what degree IGF2 is expressed during postnatal life across amniotes by quantifying the relative gene expression of IGF1 and IGF2 using publicly available RNAseq data for 82 amniote species and quantitative polymerase chain reaction on liver cDNA at embryonic, juvenile and adult stages for two lizard, bird and mouse species. We found that (i) IGF2 is expressed postnatally across amniote species and life stages-often at a higher relative expression than IGF1, contradicting rodent models; (ii) the lack of rodent postnatal IGF2 expression is due to phylogenetic placement, not inbreeding or artificial selection; and (iii) adult IGF2 expression is sex-biased in some species. Our results demonstrate that IGF2 expression is typical for amniotes throughout life, suggesting that a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms mediating variation in life-history traits will require studies that measure both IGFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby Beatty
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Alexander M. Rubin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Haruka Wada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Britt Heidinger
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
| | - Wendy R. Hood
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Tonia S. Schwartz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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41
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Tejada-Martinez D, Avelar RA, Lopes I, Zhang B, Novoa G, de Magalhães JP, Trizzino M. Positive Selection and Enhancer Evolution Shaped Lifespan and Body Mass in Great Apes. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:msab369. [PMID: 34971383 PMCID: PMC8837823 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Within primates, the great apes are outliers both in terms of body size and lifespan, since they include the largest and longest-lived species in the order. Yet, the molecular bases underlying such features are poorly understood. Here, we leveraged an integrated approach to investigate multiple sources of molecular variation across primates, focusing on over 10,000 genes, including approximately 1,500 previously associated with lifespan, and additional approximately 9,000 for which an association with longevity has never been suggested. We analyzed dN/dS rates, positive selection, gene expression (RNA-seq), and gene regulation (ChIP-seq). By analyzing the correlation between dN/dS, maximum lifespan, and body mass, we identified 276 genes whose rate of evolution positively correlates with maximum lifespan in primates. Further, we identified five genes, important for tumor suppression, adaptive immunity, metastasis, and inflammation, under positive selection exclusively in the great ape lineage. RNA-seq data, generated from the liver of six species representing all the primate lineages, revealed that 8% of approximately 1,500 genes previously associated with longevity are differentially expressed in apes relative to other primates. Importantly, by integrating RNA-seq with ChIP-seq for H3K27ac (which marks active enhancers), we show that the differentially expressed longevity genes are significantly more likely than expected to be located near a novel "ape-specific" enhancer. Moreover, these particular ape-specific enhancers are enriched for young transposable elements, and specifically SINE-Vntr-Alus. In summary, we demonstrate that multiple evolutionary forces have contributed to the evolution of lifespan and body size in primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Tejada-Martinez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Roberto A Avelar
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Inês Lopes
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Bruce Zhang
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, and Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Guy Novoa
- Department of Structure of Macromolecules, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología—CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - João Pedro de Magalhães
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Marco Trizzino
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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42
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Heller IS, Guenther CA, Meireles AM, Talbot WS, Kingsley DM. Characterization of mouse Bmp5 regulatory injury element in zebrafish wound models. Bone 2022; 155:116263. [PMID: 34826632 PMCID: PMC9007314 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2021.116263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Many key signaling molecules used to build tissues during embryonic development are re-activated at injury sites to stimulate tissue regeneration and repair. Bone morphogenetic proteins provide a classic example, but the mechanisms that lead to reactivation of BMPs following injury are still unknown. Previous studies have mapped a large "injury response element" (IRE) in the mouse Bmp5 gene that drives gene expression following bone fractures and other types of injury. Here we show that the large mouse IRE region is also activated in both zebrafish tail resection and mechanosensory hair cell injury models. Using the ability to test multiple constructs and image temporal and spatial dynamics following injury responses, we have narrowed the original size of the mouse IRE region by over 100 fold and identified a small 142 bp minimal enhancer that is rapidly induced in both mesenchymal and epithelial tissues after injury. These studies identify a small sequence that responds to evolutionarily conserved local signals in wounded tissues and suggest candidate pathways that contribute to BMP reactivation after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian S Heller
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Catherine A Guenther
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, United States of America; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Ana M Meireles
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - William S Talbot
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - David M Kingsley
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, United States of America; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, United States of America.
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43
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A comparative study on insect longevity: tropical moths do not differ from their temperate relatives. Evol Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-021-10150-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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44
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Omotoso O, Gladyshev VN, Zhou X. Lifespan Extension in Long-Lived Vertebrates Rooted in Ecological Adaptation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:704966. [PMID: 34733838 PMCID: PMC8558438 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.704966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Contemporary studies on aging and longevity have largely overlooked the role that adaptation plays in lifespan variation across species. Emerging evidence indicates that the genetic signals of extended lifespan may be maintained by natural selection, suggesting that longevity could be a product of organismal adaptation. The mechanisms of adaptation in long-lived animals are believed to account for the modification of physiological function. Here, we first review recent progress in comparative biology of long-lived animals, together with the emergence of adaptive genetic factors that control longevity and disease resistance. We then propose that hitchhiking of adaptive genetic changes is the basis for lifespan changes and suggest ways to test this evolutionary model. As individual adaptive or adaptation-linked mutations/substitutions generate specific forms of longevity effects, the cumulative beneficial effect is largely nonrandom and is indirectly favored by natural selection. We consider this concept in light of other proposed theories of aging and integrate these disparate ideas into an adaptive evolutionary model, highlighting strategies in decoding genetic factors of lifespan control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olatunde Omotoso
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Vadim N Gladyshev
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Xuming Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Beijing, China
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45
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Weinberg MM, Retta NA, Schrode KM, Screven LA, Peterson JL, Moss CF, Sterbing S, Lauer AM. Deafness in an auditory specialist, the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). Hear Res 2021; 412:108377. [PMID: 34735823 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2021.108377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Bats are long-lived animals that show presumed resistance to noise-induced and age-related hearing loss, which has been attributed to their dependence on sound processing for survival. Echolocation and basic auditory functions have been studied extensively in the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), an insectivorous microchiropteran species. We conducted hearing tests and analysis of cochlear sensory cells in a group of big brown bats that exhibited anomalies in behavioral sonar tracking experiments and/or lacked neural responses to acoustic stimulation in subcortical auditory nuclei. We show for the first time the presence of profound deafness and extensive cochlear damage in an echolocating bat species. Auditory brainstem responses were abnormal or absent in these bats, and histological analyses of their cochleae revealed extensive loss of hair cells, supporting cells, and spiral ganglion neurons. The underlying cause of deafness is unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison M Weinberg
- Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Nazrawit A Retta
- Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Katrina M Schrode
- Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Laurel A Screven
- Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jamie L Peterson
- Art as Applied to Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Cynthia F Moss
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Susanne Sterbing
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Amanda M Lauer
- Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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46
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McGuire LP, Fuller NW, Dzal YA, Haase CG, Klüg-Baerwald BJ, Silas KA, Plowright RK, Lausen CL, Willis CKR, Olson SH. Interspecific variation in evaporative water loss and temperature response, but not metabolic rate, among hibernating bats. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20759. [PMID: 34675252 PMCID: PMC8531132 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00266-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hibernation is widespread among mammals in a variety of environmental contexts. However, few experimental studies consider interspecific comparisons, which may provide insight into general patterns of hibernation strategies. We studied 13 species of free-living bats, including populations spread over thousands of kilometers and diverse habitats. We measured torpid metabolic rate (TMR) and evaporative water loss (two key parameters for understanding hibernation energetics) across a range of temperatures. There was no difference in minimum TMR among species (i.e., all species achieved similarly low torpid metabolic rate) but the temperature associated with minimum TMR varied among species. The minimum defended temperature (temperature below which TMR increased) varied from 8 °C to < 2 °C among species. Conversely, evaporative water loss varied among species, with species clustered in two groups representing high and low evaporative water loss. Notably, species that have suffered population declines due to white-nose syndrome fall in the high evaporative water loss group and less affected species in the low evaporative water loss group. Documenting general patterns of physiological diversity, and associated ecological implications, contributes to broader understanding of biodiversity, and may help predict which species are at greater risk of environmental and anthropogenic stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam P McGuire
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA.
| | - Nathan W Fuller
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
- Nongame and Rare Species Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Austin, TX, 78744, USA
| | - Yvonne A Dzal
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 2E9, Canada
| | - Catherine G Haase
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, PO Box 173520, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
- Department of Biology, Austin Peay State University, PO Box 4718, Clarkesville, TN, 37044, USA
| | - Brandon J Klüg-Baerwald
- Department of Biology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada
| | - Kirk A Silas
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Health Program, 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY, 10460, USA
| | - Raina K Plowright
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, PO Box 173520, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Cori L Lausen
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, Bat Program, PO Box 606, Kaslo, BC, V0G 1M0, Canada
| | - Craig K R Willis
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 2E9, Canada
| | - Sarah H Olson
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Health Program, 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY, 10460, USA
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47
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Guillaume B, Jérôme T, Philippe L, Eduardo C, François-Joseph L, Eric B. Aging at evolutionary crossroads: longitudinal gene co-expression network analyses of proximal and ultimate causes of aging in bats. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 39:6400255. [PMID: 34662394 PMCID: PMC8763092 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
How, when, and why do organisms, their tissues, and their cells age remain challenging issues, although researchers have identified multiple mechanistic causes of aging, and three major evolutionary theories have been developed to unravel the ultimate causes of organismal aging. A central hypothesis of these theories is that the strength of natural selection decreases with age. However, empirical evidence on when, why, and how organisms age is phylogenetically limited, especially in natural populations. Here, we developed generic comparisons of gene co-expression networks that quantify and dissect the heterogeneity of gene co-expression in conspecific individuals from different age-classes to provide topological evidence about some mechanical and fundamental causes of organismal aging. We applied this approach to investigate the complexity of some proximal and ultimate causes of aging phenotypes in a natural population of the greater mouse-eared bat Myotis myotis, a remarkably long-lived species given its body size and metabolic rate, with available longitudinal blood transcriptomes. M. myotis gene co-expression networks become increasingly fragmented with age, suggesting an erosion of the strength of natural selection and a general dysregulation of gene co-expression in aging bats. However, selective pressures remain sufficiently strong to allow successive emergence of homogeneous age-specific gene co-expression patterns, for at least 7 years. Thus, older individuals from long-lived species appear to sit at an evolutionary crossroad: as they age, they experience both a decrease in the strength of natural selection and a targeted selection for very specific biological processes, further inviting to refine a central hypothesis in evolutionary aging theories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Guillaume
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Teulière Jérôme
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Lopez Philippe
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Corel Eduardo
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Lapointe François-Joseph
- Département de sciences biologiques, Complexe des sciences, 1375 avenue Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec), H2V 0B3, Canada (
| | - Bapteste Eric
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, 75005, France
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald G. Carter
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology The Ohio State University Columbus OH USA
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Cornelius Ruhs E, Becker DJ, Oakey SJ, Ogunsina O, Fenton MB, Simmons NB, Martin LB, Downs CJ. Body size affects immune cell proportions in birds and non-volant mammals, but not bats. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:269058. [PMID: 34104965 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.241109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Powered flight has evolved several times in vertebrates and constrains morphology and physiology in ways that likely have shaped how organisms cope with infections. Some of these constraints probably have impacts on aspects of immunology, such that larger fliers might prioritize risk reduction and safety. Addressing how the evolution of flight may have driven relationships between body size and immunity could be particularly informative for understanding the propensity of some taxa to harbor many virulent and sometimes zoonotic pathogens without showing clinical disease. Here, we used a comparative framework to quantify scaling relationships between body mass and the proportions of two types of white blood cells - lymphocytes and granulocytes (neutrophils/heterophils) - across 63 bat species, 400 bird species and 251 non-volant mammal species. By using phylogenetically informed statistical models on field-collected data from wild Neotropical bats and from captive bats, non-volant mammals and birds, we show that lymphocyte and neutrophil proportions do not vary systematically with body mass among bats. In contrast, larger birds and non-volant mammals have disproportionately higher granulocyte proportions than expected for their body size. Our inability to distinguish bat lymphocyte scaling from birds and bat granulocyte scaling from all other taxa suggests there may be other ecological explanations (i.e. not flight related) for the cell proportion scaling patterns. Future comparative studies of wild bats, birds and non-volant mammals of similar body mass should aim to further differentiate evolutionary effects and other aspects of life history on immune defense and its role in the tolerance of (zoonotic) infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Cornelius Ruhs
- Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Daniel J Becker
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Samantha J Oakey
- Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Ololade Ogunsina
- Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - M Brock Fenton
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, ON, Canada, N6A 5B7
| | - Nancy B Simmons
- Department of Mammalogy, Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10024-5102, USA
| | - Lynn B Martin
- Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Cynthia J Downs
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
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Crisp RJ, Brent LJN, Carter GG. Social dominance and cooperation in female vampire bats. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:210266. [PMID: 34295524 PMCID: PMC8261227 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.210266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
When group-living animals develop individualized social relationships, they often regulate cooperation and conflict through a dominance hierarchy. Female common vampire bats have been an experimental system for studying cooperative relationships, yet surprisingly little is known about female conflict. Here, we recorded the outcomes of 1023 competitive interactions over food provided ad libitum in a captive colony of 33 vampire bats (24 adult females and their young). We found a weakly linear dominance hierarchy using three common metrics (Landau's h' measure of linearity, triangle transitivity and directional consistency). However, patterns of female dominance were less structured than in many other group-living mammals. Female social rank was not clearly predicted by body size, age, nor reproductive status, and competitive interactions were not correlated with kinship, grooming nor food sharing. We therefore found no evidence that females groomed or shared food up a hierarchy or that differences in rank explained asymmetries in grooming or food sharing. A possible explanation for such apparently egalitarian relationships among female vampire bats is the scale of competition. Female vampire bats that are frequent roostmates might not often directly compete for food in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel J. Crisp
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
| | - Lauren J. N. Brent
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK
| | - Gerald G. Carter
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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