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Alberto-Silva C, Vieira Portaro FC, Kodama RT, Gomes L, da Silva BR, da Cunha e Silva FA, Nihei KI, Konno K. Scoliidines: Neuroprotective Peptides in Solitary Scoliid Wasp Venoms. Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:446. [PMID: 39453222 PMCID: PMC11511111 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16100446] [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: 09/05/2024] [Revised: 09/30/2024] [Accepted: 10/11/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive LC-MS study examined the venom components of the solitary scoliid wasp Scolia oculata. Online mass fingerprinting showed that crude venom contains 25 small molecules (amino acids, biogenic amines, and nucleosides/nucleotides) and 45 peptides with MW 400-2700. The small molecules were identified by elemental composition analysis, and peptide sequences were determined by ESI-MS/MS and MALDI-TOF/TOF MS analyses. As major peptide components, a known peptide, β-scoliidine (DYVTVKGFSPLRKA), and three new peptides, γ-scoliidine (YVTVKGFSPLR), δ-scoliidine (YVTVKGFSPLREP) and ε-scoliidine (DYVTVKGFSPLREP) were identified, all of which are closely homologous to each other. Once the neuroprotective effects of β-scoliidine have already been described, the other three new scoliidine peptides were analyzed against oxidative stress-induced toxicity in PC12 neuronal cells by mitochondrial metabolism assay, and the structure-activity relationship was evaluated. Interestingly, pre-treatment with ε-scoliidine increased the mitochondrial metabolism of PC12 cells (106 ± 3.6%; p = 0.007) exposed to H2O2-induced oxidative stress in contrast to γ- and δ-scoliidines (77.6 ± 4.8 and 68.5 ± 4.1%, respectively) in compared to cells treated only H2O2 (75.8 ± 2.4%). These new peptides were also analyzed for enzyme inhibitor/substrate assays with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), neprilysin (NEP), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). In these assays, only δ- and ε-scoliidines increased the AChE activity (128.7 ± 3.8%; p = 0.01; and 116.8 ± 3.8% p = 0.03; respectively) in relation to basal activity (100.1 ± 1.6%). In addition, the four peptides were analyzed through in silico analysis, and none of them demonstrated possible hemolytic and toxic activities. In our study, the comprehensive LC-MS and MS/MS analyses of Scolia oculate venom identified four major peptide components of the venom β-, γ-, δ- and ε-scoliidines, and small differences in their primary structures are important to their neuroprotective properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Alberto-Silva
- Natural and Humanities Sciences Center, Experimental Morphophysiology Laboratory, Federal University of ABC (UFABC), São Bernardo do Campo 09606-070, SP, Brazil; (B.R.d.S.); (F.A.d.C.e.S.)
| | - Fernanda Calheta Vieira Portaro
- Laboratory of Structure and Function of Biomolecules, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil; (F.C.V.P.); (R.T.K.); (L.G.)
| | - Roberto Tadashi Kodama
- Laboratory of Structure and Function of Biomolecules, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil; (F.C.V.P.); (R.T.K.); (L.G.)
| | - Lais Gomes
- Laboratory of Structure and Function of Biomolecules, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil; (F.C.V.P.); (R.T.K.); (L.G.)
| | - Brenda Rufino da Silva
- Natural and Humanities Sciences Center, Experimental Morphophysiology Laboratory, Federal University of ABC (UFABC), São Bernardo do Campo 09606-070, SP, Brazil; (B.R.d.S.); (F.A.d.C.e.S.)
| | - Felipe Assumpção da Cunha e Silva
- Natural and Humanities Sciences Center, Experimental Morphophysiology Laboratory, Federal University of ABC (UFABC), São Bernardo do Campo 09606-070, SP, Brazil; (B.R.d.S.); (F.A.d.C.e.S.)
| | - Ken-ichi Nihei
- School of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya 321-8505, Tochigi, Japan;
| | - Katsuhiro Konno
- Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Toyama, Japan
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Zhong C, Zou J, Mao W, Yang P, Zhang J, Gou S, Zhang Y, Liu H, Ni J. Structure modification of anoplin for fighting resistant bacteria. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 268:116276. [PMID: 38452726 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116276] [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: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of bacterial resistance has posed a significant challenge to clinical antimicrobial treatment, rendering commonly used antibiotics ineffective. The development of novel antimicrobial agents and strategies is imperative for the treatment of resistant bacterial infections. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered a promising class of antimicrobial agents due to their low propensity for resistance and broad-spectrum activity. Anoplin is a small linear α-helical natural antimicrobial peptide that was isolated from the venom of the solitary wasp Anplius samariensis. It exhibits rich biological activity, particularly broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and low hemolytic activity. Over the past three decades, more than 40 research publications on anoplin have been made available online. This review focuses on the advancements of anoplin in antimicrobial research, encompassing its sources, characterization, antimicrobial activity, influencing factors and structural modifications. The aim is to provide assistances for the development of new antimicrobial agents that can combat bacterial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China; Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
| | - Jing Zou
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Wenbo Mao
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Ping Yang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Jingying Zhang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Sanhu Gou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China; Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Yun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China; Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Hui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China; Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Jingman Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China; Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
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Liu M, Luo Y, Jallow BJJ, Meng F. Characterization of Complete Mitochondrial Genome and Phylogenetic Analysis of a Nocturnal Wasps- Provespa barthelemyi (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:9368-9377. [PMID: 38132433 PMCID: PMC10742571 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45120587] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Genus Provespa contains nocturnal wasps mainly found in the southeastern region of Asia. There are no complete genome resources available of this genus, which hinders the study of its phylogenetic evolution and the origin of nocturnal behavior in the Vespidae family. Through high-throughput sequencing, we obtained the mitochondrial genome of Provespa barthelemyi (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), which is 17,721 base pairs in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNAs, and two rRNAs. We identified four gene rearrangement events of P. barthelemyi that frequently occur in the Vespidae family. We used Maximum Likelihood (ML) methodologies to construct a phylogenetic tree based on the sequenced mitochondrial genome and the available data of reported species belonging to Vespinae. Our findings confirmed the monophyly of Vespinae. Our study reports the first complete mitochondrial genome of Provespa and compares its characteristics with other mitochondrial genomes in the family Vespidae. This research should shed light on the phylogenetic relationships and ecological characteristics of the Vespidae family.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Fanming Meng
- College of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410017, China; (M.L.); (Y.L.); (B.J.J.J.)
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Koludarov I, Velasque M, Senoner T, Timm T, Greve C, Hamadou AB, Gupta DK, Lochnit G, Heinzinger M, Vilcinskas A, Gloag R, Harpur BA, Podsiadlowski L, Rost B, Jackson TNW, Dutertre S, Stolle E, von Reumont BM. Prevalent bee venom genes evolved before the aculeate stinger and eusociality. BMC Biol 2023; 21:229. [PMID: 37867198 PMCID: PMC10591384 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01656-5] [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: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Venoms, which have evolved numerous times in animals, are ideal models of convergent trait evolution. However, detailed genomic studies of toxin-encoding genes exist for only a few animal groups. The hyper-diverse hymenopteran insects are the most speciose venomous clade, but investigation of the origin of their venom genes has been largely neglected. RESULTS Utilizing a combination of genomic and proteo-transcriptomic data, we investigated the origin of 11 toxin genes in 29 published and 3 new hymenopteran genomes and compiled an up-to-date list of prevalent bee venom proteins. Observed patterns indicate that bee venom genes predominantly originate through single gene co-option with gene duplication contributing to subsequent diversification. CONCLUSIONS Most Hymenoptera venom genes are shared by all members of the clade and only melittin and the new venom protein family anthophilin1 appear unique to the bee lineage. Most venom proteins thus predate the mega-radiation of hymenopterans and the evolution of the aculeate stinger.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Koludarov
- Justus Liebig University of Gießen, Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
- Department of Informatics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, i12, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr. 3, Garching, 85748, Munich, Germany.
| | - Mariana Velasque
- Genomics & Regulatory Systems Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology, Tancha, Okinawa, 1919, Japan
| | - Tobias Senoner
- Department of Informatics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, i12, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr. 3, Garching, 85748, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Timm
- Protein Analytics, Institute of Biochemistry, Justus Liebig University, Friedrichstrasse 24, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Carola Greve
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Alexander Ben Hamadou
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Deepak Kumar Gupta
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Günter Lochnit
- Protein Analytics, Institute of Biochemistry, Justus Liebig University, Friedrichstrasse 24, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Michael Heinzinger
- Department of Informatics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, i12, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr. 3, Garching, 85748, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Justus Liebig University of Gießen, Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58, 35392, Giessen, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Department of Bioresources, Ohlebergsweg 12, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Rosalyn Gloag
- Rosalyn Gloag - School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Brock A Harpur
- Brock A. Harpur - Department of Entomology, Purdue University, 901 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Lars Podsiadlowski
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Centre of Molecular Biodiversity Research, Adenauerallee 160, 53113, Bonn, Germany
| | - Burkhard Rost
- Department of Informatics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, i12, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr. 3, Garching, 85748, Munich, Germany
| | - Timothy N W Jackson
- Australian Venom Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, Viktoria, 3010, Australia
| | | | - Eckart Stolle
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Centre of Molecular Biodiversity Research, Adenauerallee 160, 53113, Bonn, Germany
| | - Björn M von Reumont
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt, Germany.
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Group of Applied Bioinformatics, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-Von-Laue Str. 13, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany.
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Fitzpatrick LLJ, Ligabue-Braun R, Nekaris KAI. Slowly Making Sense: A Review of the Two-Step Venom System within Slow ( Nycticebus spp.) and Pygmy Lorises ( Xanthonycticebus spp.). Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:514. [PMID: 37755940 PMCID: PMC10536643 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15090514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the early 2000s, studies of the evolution of venom within animals have rapidly expanded, offering new revelations on the origins and development of venom within various species. The venomous mammals represent excellent opportunities to study venom evolution due to the varying functional usages, the unusual distribution of venom across unrelated mammals and the diverse variety of delivery systems. A group of mammals that excellently represents a combination of these traits are the slow (Nycticebus spp.) and pygmy lorises (Xanthonycticebus spp.) of south-east Asia, which possess the only confirmed two-step venom system. These taxa also present one of the most intriguing mixes of toxic symptoms (cytotoxicity and immunotoxicity) and functional usages (intraspecific competition and ectoparasitic defence) seen in extant animals. We still lack many pieces of the puzzle in understanding how this venom system works, why it evolved what is involved in the venom system and what triggers the toxic components to work. Here, we review available data building upon a decade of research on this topic, focusing especially on why and how this venom system may have evolved. We discuss that research now suggests that venom in slow lorises has a sophisticated set of multiple uses in both intraspecific competition and the potential to disrupt the immune system of targets; we suggest that an exudate diet reveals several toxic plants consumed by slow and pygmy lorises that could be sequestered into their venom and which may help heal venomous bite wounds; we provide the most up-to-date visual model of the brachial gland exudate secretion protein (BGEsp); and we discuss research on a complement component 1r (C1R) protein in saliva that may solve the mystery of what activates the toxicity of slow and pygmy loris venom. We conclude that the slow and pygmy lorises possess amongst the most complex venom system in extant animals, and while we have still a lot more to understand about their venom system, we are close to a breakthrough, particularly with current technological advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Lucy Joscelyne Fitzpatrick
- Nocturnal Primate Research Group, Department of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
- Centre for Functional Genomics, Department of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Rodrigo Ligabue-Braun
- Department of Pharmacosciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Avenida Sarmento Leite 245, Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
| | - K Anne-Isola Nekaris
- Nocturnal Primate Research Group, Department of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
- Centre for Functional Genomics, Department of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
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Dashevsky D, Baumann K, Undheim EAB, Nouwens A, Ikonomopoulou MP, Schmidt JO, Ge L, Kwok HF, Rodriguez J, Fry BG. Functional and Proteomic Insights into Aculeata Venoms. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15030224. [PMID: 36977115 PMCID: PMC10053895 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15030224] [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: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Aculeate hymenopterans use their venom for a variety of different purposes. The venom of solitary aculeates paralyze and preserve prey without killing it, whereas social aculeates utilize their venom in defence of their colony. These distinct applications of venom suggest that its components and their functions are also likely to differ. This study investigates a range of solitary and social species across Aculeata. We combined electrophoretic, mass spectrometric, and transcriptomic techniques to characterize the compositions of venoms from an incredibly diverse taxon. In addition, in vitro assays shed light on their biological activities. Although there were many common components identified in the venoms of species with different social behavior, there were also significant variations in the presence and activity of enzymes such as phospholipase A2s and serine proteases and the cytotoxicity of the venoms. Social aculeate venom showed higher presence of peptides that cause damage and pain in victims. The venom-gland transcriptome from the European honeybee (Apis mellifera) contained highly conserved toxins which match those identified by previous investigations. In contrast, venoms from less-studied taxa returned limited results from our proteomic databases, suggesting that they contain unique toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Dashevsky
- Australian National Insect Collection, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- Correspondence: (D.D.); (B.G.F.)
| | - Kate Baumann
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Eivind A. B. Undheim
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Bioscience, University of Oslo, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Amanda Nouwens
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Maria P. Ikonomopoulou
- Translational Venomics Group, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies in Food, 4075 Madrid, Spain
| | - Justin O. Schmidt
- Southwestern Biological Institute, 1961 W. Brichta Dr., Tucson, AZ 85745, USA
| | - Lilin Ge
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for TCM Quality and Efficacy, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing 210046, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau
| | - Hang Fai Kwok
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau
| | - Juanita Rodriguez
- Australian National Insect Collection, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Bryan G. Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- Correspondence: (D.D.); (B.G.F.)
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