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Barbosa RC, Godoy RSM, Ferreira PG, Mendes TAO, Ramalho-Ortigão M, Ribeiro JMC, Martins GF. Exploring the midgut physiology of the non-haematophagous mosquito Toxorhynchites theobaldi. Open Biol 2024; 14:230437. [PMID: 38955221 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230437] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxorhynchites mosquitoes have an exclusively phytophagous feeding habit as adults, which leads to significant differences in their morphophysiology compared with haematophagous mosquitoes. However, the molecular mechanisms of digestion in this mosquito are not well understood. In this study, RNA sequencing of the posterior midgut (PMG) of the mosquito Toxorhynchites theobaldi was undertaken, highlighting its significance in mosquito digestion. Subsequently, a comparison was made between the differential gene expression of the PMG and that of the anterior midgut. It was found that the most abundant proteases in the PMG were trypsin and chymotrypsin, and the level of gene expression for enzymes essential for digestion (such as serine protease, α-amylase and pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase) and innate immune response (including catalase, cecropin-A2 and superoxide dismutase) was like that of haematophagous mosquitoes. Peritrophin-1 was detected in the entire midgut, with an elevated expression level in the PMG. Based on our findings, it is hypothesized that a non-haematophagic habit might have been exhibited by the ancestor of Tx. theobaldi, and this trait may have been retained. This study represents a pioneering investigation at the molecular level of midgut contents in a non-haematophagous mosquito. The findings offer valuable insights into the evolutionary aspects of feeding habits in culicids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata C Barbosa
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Raquel S M Godoy
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Priscila G Ferreira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 50670-900, Brazil
| | - Tiago A O Mendes
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 50670-900, Brazil
| | | | - José M C Ribeiro
- Section of Vector Biology, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Gustavo F Martins
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
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Vomáčková Kykalová B, Sassù F, Dutra-Rêgo F, Soares RP, Volf P, Loza Telleria E. Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) derived from Leishmania and bacteria increase gene expression of antimicrobial peptides and gut surface proteins in sand flies. Int J Parasitol 2024:S0020-7519(24)00075-4. [PMID: 38626865 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2024.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
The interaction between pathogens and vectors' physiology can impact parasite transmission. Studying this interaction at the molecular level can help in developing control strategies. We study leishmaniases, diseases caused by Leishmania parasites transmitted by sand fly vectors, posing a significant global public health concern. Lipophosphoglycan (LPG), the major surface glycoconjugate of Leishmania, has been described to have several roles throughout the parasite's life cycle, both in the insect and vertebrate hosts. In addition, the sand fly midgut possesses a rich microbiota expressing lipopolysaccharides (LPS). However, the effect of LPG and LPS on the gene expression of sand fly midgut proteins or immunity effectors has not yet been documented. We experimentally fed Lutzomyia longipalpis and Phlebotomus papatasi sand flies with blood containing purified LPG from Leishmania infantum, Leishmania major, or LPS from Escherichia coli. The effect on the expression of genes encoding gut proteins galectin and mucin, digestive enzymes trypsin and chymotrypsin, and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) attacin and defensins was assessed by quantitative PCR (qPCR). The gene expression of a mucin-like protein in L. longipalpis was increased by L. infantum LPG and E. coli LPS. The gene expression of a galectin was increased in L. longipalpis by L. major LPG, and in P. papatasi by E. coli LPS. Nevertheless, the gene expression of trypsins and chymotrypsins did not significantly change. On the other hand, both L. infantum and L. major LPG significantly enhanced expression of the AMP attacin in both sand fly species and defensin in L. longipalpis. In addition, E. coli LPS increased the expression of attacin and defensin in L. longipalpis. Our study showed that Leishmania LPG and E. coli LPS differentially modulate the expression of sand fly genes involved in gut maintenance and defence. This suggests that the glycoconjugates from microbiota or Leishmania may increase the vector's immune response and the gene expression of a gut coating protein in a permissive vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Vomáčková Kykalová
- Charles University, Faculty of Science, Department of Parasitology, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Fabiana Sassù
- Charles University, Faculty of Science, Department of Parasitology, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Felipe Dutra-Rêgo
- Biotechnology Applied to Pathogens (BAP), Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, CEP: 30190-009, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Pedro Soares
- Biotechnology Applied to Pathogens (BAP), Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, CEP: 30190-009, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Petr Volf
- Charles University, Faculty of Science, Department of Parasitology, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Erich Loza Telleria
- Charles University, Faculty of Science, Department of Parasitology, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic.
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Saizonou H, Impoinvil LM, Derilus D, Omoke D, Okeyo S, Dada N, Corredor C, Mulder N, Lenhart A, Ochomo E, Djogbénou LS. Transcriptomic analysis of Anopheles gambiae from Benin reveals overexpression of salivary and cuticular proteins associated with cross-resistance to pyrethroids and organophosphates. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:348. [PMID: 38582836 PMCID: PMC10998338 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10261-x] [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: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insecticide resistance (IR) is one of the major threats to malaria vector control programs in endemic countries. However, the mechanisms underlying IR are poorly understood. Thus, investigating gene expression patterns related to IR can offer important insights into the molecular basis of IR in mosquitoes. In this study, RNA-Seq was used to characterize gene expression in Anopheles gambiae surviving exposure to pyrethroids (deltamethrin, alphacypermethrin) and an organophosphate (pirimiphos-methyl). RESULTS Larvae of An. gambiae s.s. collected from Bassila and Djougou in Benin were reared to adulthood and phenotyped for IR using a modified CDC intensity bottle bioassay. The results showed that mosquitoes from Djougou were more resistant to pyrethroids (5X deltamethrin: 51.7% mortality; 2X alphacypermethrin: 47.4%) than Bassila (1X deltamethrin: 70.7%; 1X alphacypermethrin: 77.7%), while the latter were more resistant to pirimiphos-methyl (1.5X: 48.3% in Bassila and 1X: 21.5% in Djougou). RNA-seq was then conducted on resistant mosquitoes, non-exposed mosquitoes from the same locations and the laboratory-susceptible An. gambiae s.s. Kisumu strain. The results showed overexpression of detoxification genes, including cytochrome P450s (CYP12F2, CYP12F3, CYP4H15, CYP4H17, CYP6Z3, CYP9K1, CYP4G16, and CYP4D17), carboxylesterase genes (COEJHE5E, COE22933) and glutathione S-transferases (GSTE2 and GSTMS3) in all three resistant mosquito groups analyzed. Genes encoding cuticular proteins (CPR130, CPR10, CPR15, CPR16, CPR127, CPAP3-C, CPAP3-B, and CPR76) were also overexpressed in all the resistant groups, indicating their potential role in cross resistance in An. gambiae. Salivary gland protein genes related to 'salivary cysteine-rich peptide' and 'salivary secreted mucin 3' were also over-expressed and shared across all resistant groups. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that in addition to metabolic enzymes, cuticular and salivary gland proteins could play an important role in cross-resistance to multiple classes of insecticides in Benin. These genes warrant further investigation to validate their functional role in An. gambiae resistance to insecticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helga Saizonou
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDRC), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
| | - Lucy Mackenzie Impoinvil
- Entomology Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Dieunel Derilus
- Entomology Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Diana Omoke
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR), Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Stephen Okeyo
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR), Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Nsa Dada
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDRC), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Abomey-Calavi, Benin
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Claudia Corredor
- Entomology Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nicola Mulder
- Human, Heredity, and Health in Africa H3ABionet network, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Audrey Lenhart
- Entomology Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eric Ochomo
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR), Kisumu, Kenya
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Luc S Djogbénou
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDRC), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
- Regional Institute of Public Health (IRSP), Ouidah, Benin.
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
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Yadav K, Rana VS, Anjali, Saurav GK, Rawat N, Kumar A, Sunil S, Singh OP, Rajagopal R. Mucin Protein of Aedes aegypti Interacts with Dengue Virus 2 and Influences Viral Infection. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0250322. [PMID: 36847498 PMCID: PMC10101019 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02503-22] [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: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Dengue, caused by dengue virus (DENV), is the most prevalent vector-borne viral disease, posing a serious health concern to 2.5 billion people worldwide. DENV is primarily transmitted among humans by its mosquito vector Aedes aegypti; hence, the identification of a novel dengue virus receptor in mosquitoes is critical for the development of new anti-mosquito measures. In the current study, we have identified peptides which potentially interact with the surface of the virion particles and facilitate virus infection and movement during their life cycle in the mosquito vector. To identify these candidate proteins, we performed phage-display library screening against domain III of the envelope protein (EDIII), which plays an essential role during host cell receptor binding for viral entry. The mucin protein, which shared sequence similarity with the peptide identified in the screening, was cloned, expressed, and purified for in vitro interaction studies. Using in vitro pulldown and virus overlay protein-binding assay (VOPBA), we confirmed the positive interaction of mucin with purified EDIII and whole virion particles. Finally, blocking of mucin protein with anti-mucin antibodies partially reduced DENV titers in infected mosquitos. Moreover, mucin protein was found to be localized in the midgut of Ae. aegypti. IMPORTANCE Identification of interacting protein partners of DENV in the insect vector Aedes aegypti is crucial for designing vector control-based strategies and for understanding the molecular mechanism DENV uses to modulate the host, gain entry, and survive successfully. Similar proteins can be used in generating transmission-blocking vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karuna Yadav
- Gut Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Vipin Singh Rana
- Gut Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Anjali
- Gut Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Gunjan Kumar Saurav
- Gut Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
- Department of Zoology, Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh, India
| | - Nitish Rawat
- Gut Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Ankit Kumar
- Vector Borne Disease Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Sujatha Sunil
- Vector Borne Disease Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Om P. Singh
- National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Raman Rajagopal
- Gut Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
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Association of Midgut Bacteria and Their Metabolic Pathways with Zika Infection and Insecticide Resistance in Colombian Aedes aegypti Populations. Viruses 2022; 14:v14102197. [PMID: 36298752 PMCID: PMC9609292 DOI: 10.3390/v14102197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Aedes aegypti is the vector of several arboviruses such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. In 2015-16, Zika virus (ZIKV) had an outbreak in South America associated with prenatal microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. This mosquito's viral transmission is influenced by microbiota abundance and diversity and its interactions with the vector. The conditions of cocirculation of these three arboviruses, failure in vector control due to insecticide resistance, limitations in dengue management during the COVID-19 pandemic, and lack of effective treatment or vaccines make it necessary to identify changes in mosquito midgut bacterial composition and predict its functions through the infection. Its study is fundamental because it generates knowledge for surveillance of transmission and the risk of outbreaks of these diseases at the local level. METHODS Midgut bacterial compositions of females of Colombian Ae. aegypti populations were analyzed using DADA2 Pipeline, and their functions were predicted with PICRUSt2 analysis. These analyses were done under the condition of natural ZIKV infection and resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin, alone and in combination. One-step RT-PCR determined the percentage of ZIKV-infected females. We also measured the susceptibility to the pyrethroid lambda-cyhalothrin and evaluated the presence of the V1016I mutation in the sodium channel gene. RESULTS We found high ZIKV infection rates in Ae. aegypti females from Colombian rural municipalities with deficient water supply, such as Honda with 63.6%. In the face of natural infection with an arbovirus such as Zika, the diversity between an infective and non-infective form was significantly different. Bacteria associated with a state of infection with ZIKV and lambda-cyhalothrin resistance were detected, such as the genus Bacteroides, which was related to functions of pathogenicity, antimicrobial resistance, and bioremediation of insecticides. We hypothesize that it is a vehicle for virus entry, as it is in human intestinal infections. On the other hand, Bello, the only mosquito population classified as susceptible to lambda-cyhalothrin, was associated with bacteria related to mucin degradation functions in the intestine, belonging to the Lachnospiraceae family, with the genus Dorea being increased in ZIKV-infected females. The Serratia genus presented significantly decreased functions related to phenazine production, potentially associated with infection control, and control mechanism functions for host defense and quorum sensing. Additionally, Pseudomonas was the genus principally associated with functions of the degradation of insecticides related to tryptophan metabolism, ABC transporters with a two-component system, efflux pumps, and alginate synthesis. CONCLUSIONS Microbiota composition may be modulated by ZIKV infection and insecticide resistance in Ae. aegypti Colombian populations. The condition of resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin could be inducing a phenome of dysbiosis in field Ae. aegypti affecting the transmission of arboviruses.
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Belavilas-Trovas A, Gregoriou ME, Tastsoglou S, Soukia O, Giakountis A, Mathiopoulos K. A species-specific lncRNA modulates the reproductive ability of the asian tiger mosquito. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:885767. [PMID: 36091452 PMCID: PMC9448860 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.885767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) research has emerged as an independent scientific field in recent years. Despite their association with critical cellular and metabolic processes in plenty of organisms, lncRNAs are still a largely unexplored area in mosquito research. We propose that they could serve as exceptional tools for pest management due to unique features they possess. These include low inter-species sequence conservation and high tissue specificity. In the present study, we investigated the role of ovary-specific lncRNAs in the reproductive ability of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus. Through the analysis of transcriptomic data, we identified several lncRNAs that were differentially expressed upon blood feeding; we called these genes Norma (NOn-coding RNA in Mosquito ovAries). We observed that silencing some of these Normas resulted in significant impact on mosquito fecundity and fertility. We further focused on Norma3 whose silencing resulted in 43% oviposition reduction, in smaller ovaries and 53% hatching reduction of the laid eggs, compared to anti-GFP controls. Moreover, a significant downregulation of 2 mucins withing a neighboring (∼100 Kb) mucin cluster was observed in smaller anti-Norma3 ovaries, indicating a potential mechanism of in-cis regulation between Norma3 and the mucins. Our work constitutes the first experimental proof-of-evidence connecting lncRNAs with mosquito reproduction and opens a novel path for pest management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros Belavilas-Trovas
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Maria-Eleni Gregoriou
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Spyros Tastsoglou
- DIANA-Lab, Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, Lamia, Greece
- Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Olga Soukia
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Antonis Giakountis
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Kostas Mathiopoulos
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
- *Correspondence: Kostas Mathiopoulos,
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Moriyama M, Hayashi T, Fukatsu T. A mucin protein predominantly expressed in the female-specific symbiotic organ of the stinkbug Plautia stali. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7782. [PMID: 35546182 PMCID: PMC9095716 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11895-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Diverse insects are obligatorily associated with microbial symbionts, wherein the host often develops special symbiotic organs and vertically transmits the symbiont to the next generation. What molecular factors underpin the host-symbiont relationship is of great interest but poorly understood. Here we report a novel protein preferentially produced in a female-specific symbiotic organ of the stinkbug Plautia stali, whose posterior midgut develops numerous crypts to host a Pantoea-allied bacterial mutualist. In adult females, several posteriormost crypts are conspicuously enlarged, presumably specialized for vertical symbiont transmission. We detected conspicuous protein bands specific to the female’s swollen crypts by gel electrophoresis, and identified them as representing a novel mucin-like glycoprotein. Histological inspections confirmed that the mucin protein is localized to the female’s swollen crypts, coexisting with a substantial population of the symbiotic bacteria, and excreted from the swollen crypts to the midgut main tract together with the symbiotic bacteria. Using RNA interference, we successfully suppressed production of the mucin protein in adult females of P. stali. However, although the mucin protein was depleted, the symbiont population persisted in the swollen crypts, and vertical symbiont transmission to the next generation occurred. Possible biological roles and evolutionary trajectory of the symbiosis-related mucin protein are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minoru Moriyama
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, 305-8566, Japan.
| | - Toshinari Hayashi
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, 305-8566, Japan.,Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Takema Fukatsu
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, 305-8566, Japan. .,Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan. .,Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 305-8572, Japan.
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