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Xing X, Shi J, Cui P, Yan C, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Wang C, Chen Y, Zeng X, Tian G, Liu L, Guan Y, Li C, Suzuki Y, Deng G, Chen H. Evolution and biological characterization of H5N1 influenza viruses bearing the clade 2.3.2.1 hemagglutinin gene. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2284294. [PMID: 37966008 PMCID: PMC10769554 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2284294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
H5N1 avian influenza viruses bearing the clade 2.3.2.1 hemagglutinin (HA) gene have been widely detected in birds and poultry in several countries. During our routine surveillance, we isolated 28 H5N1 viruses between January 2017 and October 2020. To investigate the genetic relationship of the globally circulating H5N1 viruses and the biological properties of those detected in China, we performed a detailed phylogenic analysis of 274 representative H5N1 strains and analyzed the antigenic properties, receptor-binding preference, and virulence in mice of the H5N1 viruses isolated in China. The phylogenic analysis indicated that the HA genes of the 274 viruses belonged to six subclades, namely clades 2.3.2.1a to 2.3.2.1f; these viruses acquired gene mutations and underwent complicated reassortment to form 58 genotypes, with G43 being the dominant genotype detected in eight Asian and African countries. The 28 H5N1 viruses detected in this study carried the HA of clade 2.3.2.1c (two strains), 2.3.2.1d (three strains), or 2.3.2.1f (23 strains), and formed eight genotypes. These viruses were antigenically well-matched with the H5-Re12 vaccine strain used in China. Animal studies showed that the pathogenicity of the H5N1 viruses ranged from non-lethal to highly lethal in mice. Moreover, the viruses exclusively bound to avian-type receptors and have not acquired the ability to bind to human-type receptors. Our study reveals the overall picture of the evolution of clade 2.3.2.1 H5N1 viruses and provides insights into the control of these viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Xing
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianzhong Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Western Agriculture, CAAS, Changji, People’s Republic of China
| | - Pengfei Cui
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cheng Yan
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuancheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Congcong Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xianying Zeng
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guobin Tian
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liling Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuntao Guan
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
- National Poultry Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chengjun Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yasuo Suzuki
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Shizuoka School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Guohua Deng
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hualan Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- National Poultry Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
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Nelder MP, Schats R, Poinar HN, Cooke A, Brickley MB. Pathogen prospecting of museums: Reconstructing malaria epidemiology. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2310859121. [PMID: 38527214 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2310859121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a disease of global significance. Ongoing changes to the earth's climate, antimalarial resistance, insecticide resistance, and socioeconomic decline test the resilience of malaria prevention programs. Museum insect specimens present an untapped resource for studying vector-borne pathogens, spurring the question: Do historical mosquito collections contain Plasmodium DNA, and, if so, can museum specimens be used to reconstruct the historical epidemiology of malaria? In this Perspective, we explore molecular techniques practical to pathogen prospecting, which, more broadly, we define as the science of screening entomological museum specimens for human, animal, or plant pathogens. Historical DNA and pathogen prospecting provide a means of describing the coevolution of human, vector, and parasite, informing the development of insecticides, diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Nelder
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Diseases, Health Protection, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Rachel Schats
- Laboratory for Human Osteoarchaeology, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hendrik N Poinar
- Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L9, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L9, Canada
- McMaster Ancient DNA Centre, Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L9, Canada
| | - Amanda Cooke
- Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L9, Canada
| | - Megan B Brickley
- Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L9, Canada
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3
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Druelle F, Leti I, Bokika Ngawolo JC, Narat V. Vertical climbing in free-ranging bonobos: An exploratory study integrating locomotor performance and substrate compliance. Am J Biol Anthropol 2024; 183:e24894. [PMID: 38180148 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Ecological factors and body size shape animal movement and adaptation. Large primates such as bonobos excel in navigating the demanding substrates of arboreal habitats. However, current approaches lack comprehensive assessment of climbing performance in free-ranging individuals, limiting our understanding of locomotor adaptations. This study aims to explore climbing performance in free-ranging bonobos and how substrate properties affect their behavior. METHODS We collected data on the climbing performance of habituated bonobos, Pan paniscus, in the Bolobo Territory, Democratic Republic of Congo. We analyzed 46 climbing bouts (12 ascents, 34 descents) while moving on vertical substrates of varying diameter and compliance levels. This study assessed the average speed, peak acceleration, resting postures, and transitions between climbing and other locomotor modes. RESULTS During climbing sequences and transitions, bonobos mitigate speed variations. They also exhibit regular pauses during climbing and show higher speeds during descent in contrast to their ascent. Regarding the influence of substrate properties, bonobos exhibit higher speed when ascending on thin and slightly flexible substrates, while they appear to achieve higher speeds when descending on large and stiff substrates, by using a "fire-pole slide" submode. DISCUSSION Bonobos demonstrate remarkable abilities for negotiating vertical substrates and substrate properties influence their performance. Our results support the idea that bonobos adopt a behavioral strategy that aligns with the notion of minimizing costs. Overall, the adoption of high velocities and the use of low-cost resting postures may reduce muscle fatigue. These aspects could represent important targets of selection to ensure ecological efficiency in bonobos.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Druelle
- Histoire Naturelle de l'Homme Préhistorique, UMR 7194, CNRS-MNHN-UPVD, Paris, France
- Functional Morphology Laboratory, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Innocent Leti
- NGO Mbou-Mon-Tour, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | | | - Victor Narat
- Eco-Anthropologie, UMR 7206, MNHN-CNRS-Univ. Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Bonobo Eco, Saint Brice sur Vienne, Vienne, France
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Luo CS, Li TT, Jiang XL, Song Y, Fan TT, Shen XB, Yi R, Ao XP, Xu GB, Deng M. High-quality haplotype-resolved genome assembly for ring-cup oak (Quercus glauca) provides insight into oaks demographic dynamics. Mol Ecol Resour 2024; 24:e13914. [PMID: 38108568 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Quercus section Cyclobalanopsis represents a dominant woody lineage in East Asian evergreen broadleaved forests. Regardless of its ecological and economic importance, little is known about the genomes of species in this unique oak lineage. Quercus glauca is one of the most widespread tree species in the section Cyclobalanopsis. In this study, a high-quality haplotype-resolved reference genome was assembled for Q. glauca from PacBio HiFi and Hi-C reads. The genome size, contig N50, and scaffold N50 measured 902.88, 7.60, and 69.28 Mb, respectively, for haplotype1, and 913.28, 7.20, and 71.53 Mb, respectively, for haplotype2. A total of 37,457 and 38,311 protein-coding genes were predicted in haplotype1 and haplotype2, respectively. Homologous chromosomes in the Q. glauca genome had excellent gene pair collinearity. The number of R-genes in Q. glauca was similar to most East Asian oaks but less than oak species from Europe and America. Abundant structural variation in the Q. glauca genome could contribute to environmental stress tolerance in Q. glauca. Sections Cyclobalanopsis and Cerris diverged in the Oligocene, in agreement with fossil records for section Cyclobalanopsis, which document its presence in East Asia since the early Miocene. The demographic dynamics of closely related oak species were largely similar. The high-quality reference genome provided here for the most widespread species in section Cyclobalanopsis will serve as an essential genomic resource for evolutionary studies of key oak lineages while also supporting studies of interspecific introgression, local adaptation, and speciation in oaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Sha Luo
- The Laboratory of Forestry Genetics, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Tian-Tian Li
- The Laboratory of Forestry Genetics, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiao-Long Jiang
- The Laboratory of Forestry Genetics, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ying Song
- The Laboratory of Forestry Genetics, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ting-Ting Fan
- The Laboratory of Forestry Genetics, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiang-Bao Shen
- The Laboratory of Forestry Genetics, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Rong Yi
- The Laboratory of Forestry Genetics, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiao-Ping Ao
- The Laboratory of Forestry Genetics, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Gang-Biao Xu
- The Laboratory of Forestry Genetics, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Min Deng
- School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology and Institute of Biodiversity, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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Gottscho AD, Mulcahy DG, Leaché AD, de Queiroz K, Lovich RE. Population genomics of flat-tailed horned lizards (Phrynosoma mcallii) informs conservation and management across a fragmented Colorado Desert landscape. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17308. [PMID: 38445567 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Phrynosoma mcallii (flat-tailed horned lizards) is a species of conservation concern in the Colorado Desert of the United States and Mexico. We analysed ddRADseq data from 45 lizards to estimate population structure, infer phylogeny, identify migration barriers, map genetic diversity hotspots, and model demography. We identified the Colorado River as the main geographic feature contributing to population structure, with the populations west of this barrier further subdivided by the Salton Sea. Phylogenetic analysis confirms that northwestern populations are nested within southeastern populations. The best-fit demographic model indicates Pleistocene divergence across the Colorado River, with significant bidirectional gene flow, and a severe Holocene population bottleneck. These patterns suggest that management strategies should focus on maintaining genetic diversity on both sides of the Colorado River and the Salton Sea. We recommend additional lands in the United States and Mexico that should be considered for similar conservation goals as those in the Rangewide Management Strategy. We also recommend periodic rangewide genomic sampling to monitor ongoing attrition of diversity, hybridization, and changing structure due to habitat fragmentation, climate change, and other long-term impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Gottscho
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Daniel G Mulcahy
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | - Adam D Leaché
- Department of Biology, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kevin de Queiroz
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Robert E Lovich
- Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, USA
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6
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Elliott TL, Spalink D, Larridon I, Zuntini AR, Escudero M, Hackel J, Barrett RL, Martín-Bravo S, Márquez-Corro JI, Granados Mendoza C, Mashau AC, Romero-Soler KJ, Zhigila DA, Gehrke B, Andrino CO, Crayn DM, Vorontsova MS, Forest F, Baker WJ, Wilson KL, Simpson DA, Muasya AM. Global analysis of Poales diversification - parallel evolution in space and time into open and closed habitats. New Phytol 2024; 242:727-743. [PMID: 38009920 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Poales are one of the most species-rich, ecologically and economically important orders of plants and often characterise open habitats, enabled by unique suites of traits. We test six hypotheses regarding the evolution and assembly of Poales in open and closed habitats throughout the world, and examine whether diversification patterns demonstrate parallel evolution. We sampled 42% of Poales species and obtained taxonomic and biogeographic data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants database, which was combined with open/closed habitat data scored by taxonomic experts. A dated supertree of Poales was constructed. We integrated spatial phylogenetics with regionalisation analyses, historical biogeography and ancestral state estimations. Diversification in Poales and assembly of open and closed habitats result from dynamic evolutionary processes that vary across lineages, time and space, most prominently in tropical and southern latitudes. Our results reveal parallel and recurrent patterns of habitat and trait transitions in the species-rich families Poaceae and Cyperaceae. Smaller families display unique and often divergent evolutionary trajectories. The Poales have achieved global dominance via parallel evolution in open habitats, with notable, spatially and phylogenetically restricted divergences into strictly closed habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammy L Elliott
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Daniel Spalink
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, TX, 77843-2258, USA
| | - Isabel Larridon
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, UK
- Systematic and Evolutionary Botany Lab, Department of Biology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Gent, Belgium
| | | | - Marcial Escudero
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Reina Mercedes 6, Seville, 41012, Spain
| | - Jan Hackel
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, UK
- Department of Biology, University of Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Russell L Barrett
- National Herbarium of New South Wales, Botanic Gardens of Sydney, Australian Botanic Garden, Locked Bag 6002, Mount Annan, NSW, 2567, Australia
| | - Santiago Martín-Bravo
- Botany Area, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, ctra. de Utrera km 1, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - José Ignacio Márquez-Corro
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, UK
- Botany Area, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, ctra. de Utrera km 1, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Carolina Granados Mendoza
- Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, CP 04510, Mexico
| | - Aluoneswi C Mashau
- Foundational Research and Services, South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0184, South Africa
| | - Katya J Romero-Soler
- Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, CP 04510, Mexico
| | - Daniel A Zhigila
- Department of Botany, Gombe State University, Tudun Wada, Gombe, 760001, Nigeria
| | - Berit Gehrke
- Universitetet i Bergen, Universitetsmuseet, Postboks 7800, NO-5020, Bergen, Norway
| | - Caroline Oliveira Andrino
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, CEP 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Darren M Crayn
- Sir Robert Norman Building (E2), James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia
| | | | - Félix Forest
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, UK
| | | | - Karen L Wilson
- National Herbarium of New South Wales, Botanic Gardens of Sydney, Australian Botanic Garden, Locked Bag 6002, Mount Annan, NSW, 2567, Australia
| | - David A Simpson
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, UK
- Botany Department, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College, The University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - A Muthama Muasya
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
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Luppi AI, Rosas FE, Noonan MP, Mediano PAM, Kringelbach ML, Carhart-Harris RL, Stamatakis EA, Vernon AC, Turkheimer FE. Oxygen and the Spark of Human Brain Evolution: Complex Interactions of Metabolism and Cortical Expansion across Development and Evolution. Neuroscientist 2024; 30:173-198. [PMID: 36476177 DOI: 10.1177/10738584221138032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Scientific theories on the functioning and dysfunction of the human brain require an understanding of its development-before and after birth and through maturation to adulthood-and its evolution. Here we bring together several accounts of human brain evolution by focusing on the central role of oxygen and brain metabolism. We argue that evolutionary expansion of human transmodal association cortices exceeded the capacity of oxygen delivery by the vascular system, which led these brain tissues to rely on nonoxidative glycolysis for additional energy supply. We draw a link between the resulting lower oxygen tension and its effect on cytoarchitecture, which we posit as a key driver of genetic developmental programs for the human brain-favoring lower intracortical myelination and the presence of biosynthetic materials for synapse turnover. Across biological and temporal scales, this protracted capacity for neural plasticity sets the conditions for cognitive flexibility and ongoing learning, supporting complex group dynamics and intergenerational learning that in turn enabled improved nutrition to fuel the metabolic costs of further cortical expansion. Our proposed model delineates explicit mechanistic links among metabolism, molecular and cellular brain heterogeneity, and behavior, which may lead toward a clearer understanding of brain development and its disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea I Luppi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Division of Anaesthesia, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
| | - Fernando E Rosas
- Department of Informatics, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Science, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Centre for Complexity Science, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - MaryAnn P Noonan
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Pedro A M Mediano
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Psychology, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Department of Computing, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Morten L Kringelbach
- Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Center for Music in the Brain, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Robin L Carhart-Harris
- Psychedelics Division-Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Emmanuel A Stamatakis
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Division of Anaesthesia, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anthony C Vernon
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Federico E Turkheimer
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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8
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Dinnage R, Sarre SD, Duncan RP, Dickman CR, Edwards SV, Greenville AC, Wardle GM, Gruber B. slimr: An R package for tailor-made integrations of data in population genomic simulations over space and time. Mol Ecol Resour 2024; 24:e13916. [PMID: 38124500 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Software for realistically simulating complex population genomic processes is revolutionizing our understanding of evolutionary processes, and providing novel opportunities for integrating empirical data with simulations. However, the integration between standalone simulation software and R is currently not well developed. Here, we present slimr, an R package designed to create a seamless link between standalone software SLiM >3.0, one of the most powerful population genomic simulation frameworks, and the R development environment, with its powerful data manipulation and analysis tools. We show how slimr facilitates smooth integration between genetic data, ecological data and simulation in a single environment. The package enables pipelines that begin with data reading, cleaning and manipulation, proceed to constructing empirically based parameters and initial conditions for simulations, then to running numerical simulations and finally to retrieving simulation results in a format suitable for comparisons with empirical data - aided by advanced analysis and visualization tools provided by R. We demonstrate the use of slimr with an example from our own work on the landscape population genomics of desert mammals, highlighting the advantage of having a single integrated tool for both data analysis and simulation. slimr makes the powerful simulation ability of SLiM directly accessible to R users, allowing integrated simulation projects that incorporate empirical data without the need to switch between software environments. This should provide more opportunities for evolutionary biologists and ecologists to use realistic simulations to better understand the interplay between ecological and evolutionary processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell Dinnage
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
- Centre for Conservation Ecology and Genomics, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Stephen D Sarre
- Centre for Conservation Ecology and Genomics, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Richard P Duncan
- Centre for Conservation Ecology and Genomics, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Christopher R Dickman
- Desert Ecology Research Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Scott V Edwards
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Aaron C Greenville
- Desert Ecology Research Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Glenda M Wardle
- Desert Ecology Research Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bernd Gruber
- Centre for Conservation Ecology and Genomics, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
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9
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Zhang T, Elomaa P. Development and evolution of the Asteraceae capitulum. New Phytol 2024; 242:33-48. [PMID: 38361269 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Asteraceae represent one of the largest and most diverse families of plants. The evolutionary success of this family has largely been contributed to their unique inflorescences, capitula that mimic solitary flowers but are typically aggregates of multiple florets. Here, we summarize the recent molecular and genetic level studies that have promoted our understanding of the development and evolution of capitula. We focus on new results on patterning of the enlarged meristem resulting in the iconic phyllotactic arrangement of florets in Fibonacci numbers of spirals. We also summarize the current understanding of the genetic networks regulating the characteristic reproductive traits in the family such as floral dimorphism and differentiation of highly specialized floral organs. So far, developmental studies in Asteraceae are still limited to a very narrow selection of model species. Along with the recent advancements in genomics and phylogenomics, Asteraceae and its relatives provide an outstanding model clade for extended evo-devo studies to exploit the morphological diversity and the underlying molecular networks and to translate this knowledge to the breeding of the key crops in the family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng Zhang
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Paula Elomaa
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
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10
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Damke LVS, Bem FP, Doering M, Piovesan TR, Müller RT. The elongated neck of sauropodomorph dinosaurs evolved gradually. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2024; 307:1060-1070. [PMID: 36285778 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Discoveries from South America have increased our knowledge on the early evolutionary history of sauropodomorph dinosaurs. The dietary shift from faunivorous to herbivorous creatures and the increasing body size are both widely documented in the fossil record. Conversely, the initial evolution of the elongated neck is poorly known. It is one of the most diagnostic features of Sauropodomorpha. There is a gap between the record of short-necked sauropodomorphs from Carnian (±233 Ma) and long-necked forms from early Norian (±225 Ma). As a consequence, it is unknown if the cervical vertebrae became long gradually or abruptly. In the present study, we present a new specimen excavated from strata that belong to this time interval (±228 Ma). CAPPA/UFSM 0352 comprises a series of five cervical vertebrae unearthed from the Late Triassic of Southern Brazil. The vertebrae are proportionately longer than that of older forms and proportionately shorter than that of younger ones. Therefore, our results demonstrate that the elongation of the neck of sauropodomorphs is an example of gradual evolutionary process. Except by its elongated shape, the general anatomy of the cervical elements resembles that of the earliest forms (i.e., have a conservative anatomy). Combined with previous data, it is possible to conclude that the shape of the skull and teeth, as well as the neck proportions, were the first structures to clearly differ derived sauropodomorphs from early diverging forms. Finally, some of the recovered phylogenetic scenarios favor the origins of the elongated neck in the clade Bagualosauria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lísie V S Damke
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Animal, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
- Centro de Apoio à Pesquisa Paleontológica da Quarta Colônia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, São João do Polêsine, Brazil
| | - Fabiula P Bem
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Animal, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
- Centro de Apoio à Pesquisa Paleontológica da Quarta Colônia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, São João do Polêsine, Brazil
| | - Mariana Doering
- Centro de Apoio à Pesquisa Paleontológica da Quarta Colônia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, São João do Polêsine, Brazil
| | - Tamara R Piovesan
- Centro de Apoio à Pesquisa Paleontológica da Quarta Colônia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, São João do Polêsine, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo T Müller
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Animal, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
- Centro de Apoio à Pesquisa Paleontológica da Quarta Colônia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, São João do Polêsine, Brazil
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11
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Mitchell DR, Sherratt E, Weisbecker V. Facing the facts: adaptive trade-offs along body size ranges determine mammalian craniofacial scaling. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:496-524. [PMID: 38029779 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian cranium (skull without lower jaw) is representative of mammalian diversity and is thus of particular interest to mammalian biologists across disciplines. One widely retrieved pattern accompanying mammalian cranial diversification is referred to as 'craniofacial evolutionary allometry' (CREA). This posits that adults of larger species, in a group of closely related mammals, tend to have relatively longer faces and smaller braincases. However, no process has been officially suggested to explain this pattern, there are many apparent exceptions, and its predictions potentially conflict with well-established biomechanical principles. Understanding the mechanisms behind CREA and causes for deviations from the pattern therefore has tremendous potential to explain allometry and diversification of the mammalian cranium. Here, we propose an amended framework to characterise the CREA pattern more clearly, in that 'longer faces' can arise through several kinds of evolutionary change, including elongation of the rostrum, retraction of the jaw muscles, or a more narrow or shallow skull, which all result in a generalised gracilisation of the facial skeleton with increased size. We define a standardised workflow to test for the presence of the pattern, using allometric shape predictions derived from geometric morphometrics analysis, and apply this to 22 mammalian families including marsupials, rabbits, rodents, bats, carnivores, antelopes, and whales. Our results show that increasing facial gracility with size is common, but not necessarily as ubiquitous as previously suggested. To address the mechanistic basis for this variation, we then review cranial adaptations for harder biting. These dictate that a more gracile cranium in larger species must represent a structural sacrifice in the ability to produce or withstand harder bites, relative to size. This leads us to propose that facial gracilisation in larger species is often a product of bite force allometry and phylogenetic niche conservatism, where more closely related species tend to exhibit more similar feeding ecology and biting behaviours and, therefore, absolute (size-independent) bite force requirements. Since larger species can produce the same absolute bite forces as smaller species with less effort, we propose that relaxed bite force demands can permit facial gracility in response to bone optimisation and alternative selection pressures. Thus, mammalian facial scaling represents an adaptive by-product of the shifting importance of selective pressures occurring with increased size. A reverse pattern of facial 'shortening' can accordingly also be found, and is retrieved in several cases here, where larger species incorporate novel feeding behaviours involving greater bite forces. We discuss multiple exceptions to a bite force-mediated influence on facial proportions across mammals which lead us to argue that ecomorphological specialisation of the cranium is likely to be the primary driver of facial scaling patterns, with some developmental constraints as possible secondary factors. A potential for larger species to have a wider range of cranial functions when less constrained by bite force demands might also explain why selection for larger sizes seems to be prevalent in some mammalian clades. The interplay between adaptation and constraint across size ranges thus presents an interesting consideration for a mechanistically grounded investigation of mammalian cranial allometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Rex Mitchell
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Wollongong, New South Wales, 2522, Australia
| | - Emma Sherratt
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
- South Australian Museum, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Vera Weisbecker
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Wollongong, New South Wales, 2522, Australia
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12
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Pinheiro FL, Pretto FA, Kerber L. The dawn of an Era: New contributions on comparative and functional anatomy of Triassic tetrapods. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2024; 307:713-721. [PMID: 38344876 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/16/2024]
Abstract
The Triassic period stands as a crucial moment for understanding tetrapod evolution, marking the emergence and early diversification of numerous lineages that persist in today's ecosystems. Birds, crocodiles, testudines, lizards, and mammals can all trace their origins to the Triassic, which is distinguished by several adaptive radiation events that fostered unparalleled diversity in body plans and lifestyles. Beyond this macroevolutionary significance, the Triassic period serves as fertile ground for scientific inquiry, especially in tetrapod studies. The aim of this Special Issue is to assemble a diverse array of new contributions focused on continental Triassic tetrapods globally, encouraging collaboration among researchers across generations, pooling their efforts to comprehend this pivotal moment in tetrapod evolutionary history. This issue encompasses almost 40 varied contributions, spanning topics from comparative and functional anatomy, including descriptions of novel taxa, comprehensive anatomical reviews, systematic investigations, phylogenetic analyses, paleoneurological studies, biomechanical assessments, and detailed examinations of histology and ontogeny. Collectively, this Special Issue offers an extensive exploration of Triassic tetrapods from anatomical, ecological, and evolutionary perspectives, unveiling fresh insights into this intriguing moment in vertebrate evolutionary history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe L Pinheiro
- Laboratório de Paleobiologia, Universidade Federal do Pampa, São Gabriel, Brazil
| | - Flávio A Pretto
- Centro de Apoio à Pesquisa Paleontológica da Quarta Colônia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (CAPPA/UFSM), São João do Polêsine, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Kerber
- Centro de Apoio à Pesquisa Paleontológica da Quarta Colônia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (CAPPA/UFSM), São João do Polêsine, Brazil
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13
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Kolencik S, Stanley EL, Punnath A, Grant AR, Doña J, Johnson KP, Allen JM. Parasite escape mechanisms drive morphological diversification in avian lice. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232665. [PMID: 38531401 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Organisms that have repeatedly evolved similar morphologies owing to the same selective pressures provide excellent cases in which to examine specific morphological changes and their relevance to the ecology and evolution of taxa. Hosts of permanent parasites act as an independent evolutionary experiment, as parasites on these hosts are thought to be undergoing similar selective pressures. Parasitic feather lice have repeatedly diversified into convergent ecomorphs in different microhabitats on their avian hosts. We quantified specific morphological characters to determine (i) which traits are associated with each ecomorph, (ii) the quantitative differences between these ecomorphs, and (iii) if there is evidence of displacement among co-occurring lice as might be expected under louse-louse competition on the host. We used nano-computed tomography scan data of 89 specimens, belonging to four repeatedly evolved ecomorphs, to examine their mandibular muscle volume, limb length and three-dimensional head shape data. Here, we find evidence that lice repeatedly evolve similar morphologies as a mechanism to escape host defences, but also diverge into different ecomorphs related to the way they escape these defences. Lice that co-occur with other genera on a host exhibit greater morphological divergence, indicating a potential role of competition in evolutionary divergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav Kolencik
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000 Koper, Slovenia
| | - Edward L Stanley
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Aswaj Punnath
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Avery R Grant
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Jorge Doña
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Kevin P Johnson
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Julie M Allen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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14
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Von Vietinghoff S, Shevchuk O, Dobrindt U, Engel DR, Jorch SK, Kurts C, Miethke T, Wagenlehner F. The global burden of antimicrobial resistance - urinary tract infections. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2024; 39:581-588. [PMID: 37891013 DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfad233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a significant global healthcare problem. Antibiotic use has accelerated the physiologic process of AMR, particularly in Gram-negative pathogens. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are predominantly of a Gram-negative nature. Uropathogens are evolutionarily highly adapted and selected strains with specific virulence factors, suggesting common mechanisms in how bacterial cells acquire virulence and AMR factors. The simultaneous increase in resistance and virulence is a complex and context-dependent phenomenon. Among known AMR mechanisms, the plenitude of different β-lactamases is especially prominent. The risk for AMR in UTIs varies in different patient populations. A history of antibiotic consumption and the physiology of urinary flow are major factors that shape AMR prevalence. The urinary tract is in close crosstalk with the microbiome of other compartments, including the gut and genital tracts. In addition, pharmacokinetic properties and the physiochemical composition of urinary compartments can contribute to the emergence of AMR. Alternatives to antibiotic treatment and a broader approach to address bacterial infections are needed. Among the various alternatives studied, antimicrobial peptides and bacteriophage treatment appear to be highly promising approaches. We herein summarize the present knowledge of clinical and microbiological AMR in UTIs and discuss innovative approaches, namely new risk prediction tools and the use of non-antibiotic approaches to defend against uropathogenic microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibylle Von Vietinghoff
- University Hospital Bonn, Medical Clinic 1, Section for Nephrology and University Bonn, Germany
| | - Olga Shevchuk
- University Duisburg-Essen, University Hospital Essen, Institute of Experimental Immunology and Imaging, Department of Immunodynamics, Essen, Germany
| | - Ulrich Dobrindt
- University of Münster, Institute of Hygiene, Münster, Germany
| | - Daniel Robert Engel
- University Duisburg-Essen, University Hospital Essen, Institute of Experimental Immunology and Imaging, Department of Immunodynamics, Essen, Germany
| | | | | | - Thomas Miethke
- Medical Faculty of Mannheim University of Heidelberg, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Heidelberg, Germany
- Medical Faculty of Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Florian Wagenlehner
- Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Clinic for Urology, Paediatric Urology and Andrology, Giessen, Germany
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15
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Cao B, Wang X, Yin W, Gao Z, Xia B. The human microbiota is a beneficial reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 mutations. mBio 2024:e0318723. [PMID: 38530031 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03187-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mutations are rapidly emerging. In particular, beneficial mutations in the spike (S) protein, which can either make a person more infectious or enable immunological escape, are providing a significant obstacle to the prevention and treatment of pandemics. However, how the virus acquires a high number of beneficial mutations in a short time remains a mystery. We demonstrate here that variations of concern may be mutated due in part to the influence of the human microbiome. We searched the National Center for Biotechnology Information database for homologous fragments (HFs) after finding a mutation and the six neighboring amino acids in a viral mutation fragment. Among the approximate 8,000 HFs obtained, 61 mutations in S and other outer membrane proteins were found in bacteria, accounting for 62% of all mutation sources, which is 12-fold higher than the natural variable proportion. A significant proportion of these bacterial species-roughly 70%-come from the human microbiota, are mainly found in the lung or gut, and share a composition pattern with COVID-19 patients. Importantly, SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase replicates corresponding bacterial mRNAs harboring mutations, producing chimeric RNAs. SARS-CoV-2 may collectively pick up mutations from the human microbiota that change the original virus's binding sites or antigenic determinants. Our study clarifies the evolving mutational mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2. IMPORTANCE Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mutations are rapidly emerging, in particular advantageous mutations in the spike (S) protein, which either increase transmissibility or lead to immune escape and are posing a major challenge to pandemic prevention and treatment. However, how the virus acquires a high number of advantageous mutations in a short time remains a mystery. Here, we provide evidence that the human microbiota is a reservoir of advantageous mutations and aids mutational evolution and host adaptation of SARS-CoV-2. Our findings demonstrate a conceptual breakthrough on the mutational evolution mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 for human adaptation. SARS-CoV-2 may grab advantageous mutations from the widely existing microorganisms in the host, which is undoubtedly an "efficient" manner. Our study might open a new perspective to understand the evolution of virus mutation, which has enormous implications for comprehending the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Guangdong Guangya High School, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoxi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wanchao Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan, China
| | - Zhaobing Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan, China
| | - Bingqing Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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16
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Behrmann-Godel J, Roch S, Böhm A, Jolles JW, Brinker A. Genetic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity drive troglomorphic character development in European cavefish. Evolution 2024; 78:734-745. [PMID: 38252978 DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpae010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The Aach cave loach (Barbatula barbatula), a recently discovered member of the Nemacheilidae family, offers a unique opportunity to understand the mechanisms underlying evolutionary change. In a common garden experiment, we reared groups of laboratory-bred cave, surface, and hybrid loach under different light conditions. Troglomorphic characters varied significantly among the fish, influenced to a different extent by parental origin and light conditions. Cavefish progeny consistently exhibited smaller eyes, lighter pigmentation, longer barbels, and larger olfactory epithelia than surface fish, while hybrids displayed intermediate characteristics. Surface and hybrid fish raised in complete darkness resembled the cavefish phenotype, while cavefish raised under a natural photoperiod approached the surface form. Characters associated with eye degeneration were found to be primarily heritable. Conversely, traits related to chemo- and mechano-reception were enhanced in the surface and hybrid groups reared in complete darkness, suggesting phenotypic plasticity. Our findings offer valuable insights into the interplay between genetic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity to troglomorphic adaption. This contributes to the broader understanding of the early stages of adaptation, where phenotypic plasticity, drift, and selection shape phenotypes. Relatively recently established cavefish, such as the Aach cave loach, are promising candidates for comparative research investigating evolutionary mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasminca Behrmann-Godel
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Ministry for Nutrition, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection Baden‑Württemberg (MLR), Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Samuel Roch
- Fisheries Research Station Baden-Württemberg, Langenargen, Germany
| | - Alexander Böhm
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jolle Wolter Jolles
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), Barcelona, Spain
- Centre for Advanced Studies Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Blanes, Spain
| | - Alexander Brinker
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Fisheries Research Station Baden-Württemberg, Langenargen, Germany
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17
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Casiraghi L, Mambretti F, Tovo A, Paraboschi EM, Suweis S, Bellini T. Synthetic eco- evolutionary dynamics in simple molecular environment. eLife 2024; 12:RP90156. [PMID: 38530348 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The understanding of eco-evolutionary dynamics, and in particular the mechanism of coexistence of species, is still fragmentary and in need of test bench model systems. To this aim we developed a variant of SELEX in vitro selection to study the evolution of a population of ∼1015 single-strand DNA oligonucleotide 'individuals'. We begin with a seed of random sequences which we select via affinity capture from ∼1012 DNA oligomers of fixed sequence ('resources') over which they compete. At each cycle ('generation'), the ecosystem is replenished via PCR amplification of survivors. Massive parallel sequencing indicates that across generations the variety of sequences ('species') drastically decreases, while some of them become populous and dominate the ecosystem. The simplicity of our approach, in which survival is granted by hybridization, enables a quantitative investigation of fitness through a statistical analysis of binding energies. We find that the strength of individual resource binding dominates the selection in the first generations, while inter- and intra-individual interactions become important in later stages, in parallel with the emergence of prototypical forms of mutualism and parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Casiraghi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Fratelli Cervi, Segrate, Italy
| | - Francesco Mambretti
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Anna Tovo
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Elvezia Maria Paraboschi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
- IRCCS, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Samir Suweis
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Tommaso Bellini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Fratelli Cervi, Segrate, Italy
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18
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Hoyer J, Kolar K, Athira A, van den Burgh M, Dondorp D, Liang Z, Chatzigeorgiou M. Polymodal sensory perception drives settlement and metamorphosis of Ciona larvae. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1168-1182.e7. [PMID: 38335959 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The Earth's oceans brim with an incredible diversity of microscopic lifeforms, including motile planktonic larvae, whose survival critically depends on effective dispersal in the water column and subsequent exploration of the seafloor to identify a suitable settlement site. How their nervous systems mediate sensing of diverse multimodal cues remains enigmatic. Here, we uncover that the tunicate Ciona intestinalis larvae employ ectodermal sensory cells to sense various mechanical and chemical cues. Combining whole-brain imaging and chemogenetics, we demonstrate that stimuli encoded at the periphery are sufficient to drive global brain-state changes to promote or impede both larval attachment and metamorphosis behaviors. The ability of C. intestinalis larvae to leverage polymodal sensory perception to support information coding and chemotactile behaviors may explain how marine larvae make complex decisions despite streamlined nervous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorgen Hoyer
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Kushal Kolar
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Athira Athira
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Meike van den Burgh
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Daniel Dondorp
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Zonglai Liang
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Marios Chatzigeorgiou
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway.
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19
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Majane AC, Cridland JM, Blair LK, Begun DJ. Evolution and genetics of accessory gland transcriptome divergence between Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans. Genetics 2024:iyae039. [PMID: 38518250 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies of allele-specific expression in interspecific hybrids have provided important insights into gene-regulatory divergence and hybrid incompatibilities. Many such investigations in Drosophila have used transcriptome data from complex mixtures of many tissues or from gonads, however, regulatory divergence may vary widely among species, sexes, and tissues. Thus, we lack sufficiently broad sampling to be confident about the general biological principles of regulatory divergence. Here we seek to fill some of these gaps in the literature by characterizing regulatory evolution and hybrid misexpression in a somatic male sex organ, the accessory gland, in F1 hybrids between Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans. The accessory gland produces seminal fluid proteins, which play an important role in male and female fertility and may be subject to adaptive divergence due to male-male or male-female interactions. We find that trans differences are relatively more abundant than cis, in contrast to most of the interspecific hybrid literature, though large effect-size trans differences are rare. Seminal fluid protein genes have significantly elevated levels of expression divergence and tend to be regulated through both cis and trans divergence. We find limited misexpression (over- or underexpression relative to both parents) in this organ compared to most other Drosophila studies. As in previous studies, male-biased genes are overrepresented among misexpressed genes and are much more likely to be underexpressed. ATAC-Seq data show that chromatin accessibility is correlated with expression differences among species and hybrid allele-specific expression. This work identifies unique regulatory evolution and hybrid misexpression properties of the accessory gland and suggests the importance of tissue-specific allele-specific expression studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex C Majane
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Julie M Cridland
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Logan K Blair
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - David J Begun
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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20
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James C, Trevisan-Herraz M, Juan D, Rico D. Evolutionary analysis of gene ages across TADs associates chromatin topology with whole-genome duplications. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113895. [PMID: 38517894 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Topologically associated domains (TADs) are interaction subnetworks of chromosomal regions in 3D genomes. TAD boundaries frequently coincide with genome breaks while boundary deletion is under negative selection, suggesting that TADs may facilitate genome rearrangements and evolution. We show that genes co-localize by evolutionary age in humans and mice, resulting in TADs having different proportions of younger and older genes. We observe a major transition in the age co-localization patterns between the genes born during vertebrate whole-genome duplications (WGDs) or before and those born afterward. We also find that genes recently duplicated in primates and rodents are more frequently essential when they are located in old-enriched TADs and interact with genes that last duplicated during the WGD. Therefore, the evolutionary relevance of recent genes may increase when located in TADs with established regulatory networks. Our data suggest that TADs could play a role in organizing ancestral functions and evolutionary novelty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caelinn James
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), The Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
| | - Marco Trevisan-Herraz
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - David Juan
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Systems Biology Department, Spanish National Centre for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Rico
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa (CABIMER), CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Junta de Andalucía, Seville, Spain.
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21
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Lillie M, Pettersson M, Jern P. Contrasting segregation patterns among endogenous retroviruses across the koala population. Commun Biol 2024; 7:350. [PMID: 38514810 PMCID: PMC10957985 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06049-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) have experienced a history of retroviral epidemics leaving their trace as heritable endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) in their genomes. A recently identified ERV lineage, named phaCin-β, shows a pattern of recent, possibly current, activity with high insertional polymorphism in the population. Here, we investigate geographic patterns of three focal ERV lineages of increasing estimated ages, from the koala retrovirus (KoRV) to phaCin-β and to phaCin-β-like, using the whole-genome sequencing of 430 koalas from the Koala Genome Survey. Thousands of ERV loci were found across the population, with contrasting patterns of polymorphism. Northern individuals had thousands of KoRV integrations and hundreds of phaCin-β ERVs. In contrast, southern individuals had higher phaCin-β frequencies, possibly reflecting more recent activity and a founder effect. Overall, our findings suggest high ERV burden in koalas, reflecting historic retrovirus-host interactions. Importantly, the ERV catalogue supplies improved markers for conservation genetics in this endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette Lillie
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, SE-751 23, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, SE-752 36, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Mats Pettersson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, SE-751 23, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Patric Jern
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, SE-751 23, Uppsala, Sweden.
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22
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Boyd BM, House N, Carduck CW, Reed DL. Genomic diversity in the endosymbiotic bacteria of human head lice. Mol Biol Evol 2024:msae064. [PMID: 38513084 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Insects have repeatedly forged symbioses with heritable microbes, gaining novel traits. For the microbe, the transition to symbioses can lead to the degeneration of the symbiont's genome through transmission bottlenecks, isolation, and the loss of DNA repair enzymes. However, some insect-microbial symbioses have persisted for millions of years, suggesting natural selection slows genetic drift and maintains functional consistency between symbiont populations. By sampling in multiple countries, we examine genomic diversity within a symbiont species, a heritable symbiotic bacterium found only in human head lice. We find that human head louse symbionts contain genetic diversity that appears to have arisen contemporaneously with the appearance of anatomically modern humans within Africa and/or during the colonization of Eurasia by humans. We predict that the observed genetic diversity underlies functional differences in extant symbiont lineages, through the inactivation of genes involved in symbiont membrane construction. Furthermore, we find evidence of additional gene losses prior to the appearance of modern humans, also impacting the symbiont membrane. From this, we conclude that symbiont genome degeneration is proceeding, via gene inactivation and subsequent loss, in human head louse symbionts, while genomic diversity is maintained. Collectively, our results provide a look into the genomic diversity within a single symbiont species and highlight the shared evolutionary history of humans, lice, and bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bret M Boyd
- Center for Biological Data Science, Life Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Niyomi House
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, Nevada, USA
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Christopher W Carduck
- Center for Biological Data Science, Life Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - David L Reed
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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23
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Kunz HH, Armbruster U, Mühlbauer S, de Vries J, Davis GA. Chloroplast ion homeostasis - what do we know and where should we go? New Phytol 2024. [PMID: 38515227 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Plant yields heavily depend on proper macro- and micronutrient supply from the soil. In the leaf cells, nutrient ions fulfill specific roles in biochemical reactions, especially photosynthesis housed in the chloroplast. Here, a well-balanced ion homeostasis is maintained by a number of ion transport proteins embedded in the envelope and thylakoid membranes. Ten years ago, the first alkali metal transporters from the K+ EFFLUX ANTIPORTER family were discovered in the model plant Arabidopsis. Since then, our knowledge about the physiological importance of these carriers and their substrates has greatly expanded. New insights into the role of alkali ions in plastid gene expression and photoprotective mechanisms, both prerequisites for plant productivity in natural environments, were gained. The discovery of a Cl- channel in the thylakoid and several additional plastid alkali and alkali metal transport proteins have advanced the field further. Nevertheless, scientists still have long ways to go before a complete systemic understanding of the chloroplast's ion transportome will emerge. In this Tansley review, we highlight and discuss the achievements of the last decade. More importantly, we make recommendations on what areas to prioritize, so the field can reach the next milestones. One area, laid bare by our similarity-based comparisons among phototrophs is our lack of knowledge what ion transporters are used by cyanobacteria to buffer photosynthesis fluctuations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Henning Kunz
- Plant Biochemistry, Biology, LMU Munich, Großhadernerstr. 2-4, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Ute Armbruster
- Institute of Molecular Photosynthesis, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- CEPLAS - Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Susanne Mühlbauer
- Plant Biochemistry, Biology, LMU Munich, Großhadernerstr. 2-4, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jan de Vries
- Department of Applied Bioinformatics, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Campus Institute Data Science (CIDAS), University of Goettingen, Goldschmidtstr. 1, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Geoffry A Davis
- Plant Biochemistry, Biology, LMU Munich, Großhadernerstr. 2-4, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
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24
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Helle S, Tanskanen AO, Coall DA, Perry G, Daly M, Danielsbacka M. Investment by maternal grandmother buffers children against the impacts of adverse early life experiences. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6815. [PMID: 38514748 PMCID: PMC10957867 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56760-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Exogenous shocks during sensitive periods of development can have long-lasting effects on adult phenotypes including behavior, survival and reproduction. Cooperative breeding, such as grandparental care in humans and some other mammal species, is believed to have evolved partly in order to cope with challenging environments. Nevertheless, studies addressing whether grandparental investment can buffer the development of grandchildren from multiple adversities early in life are few and have provided mixed results, perhaps owing to difficulties drawing causal inferences from non-experimental data. Using population-based data of English and Welsh adolescents (sample size ranging from 817 to 1197), we examined whether grandparental investment reduces emotional and behavioral problems in children resulting from facing multiple adverse early life experiences (AELEs), by employing instrumental variable regression in a Bayesian structural equation modeling framework to better justify causal interpretations of the results. When children had faced multiple AELEs, the investment of maternal grandmothers reduced, but could not fully erase, their emotional and behavioral problems. No such result was observed in the case of the investment of other grandparent types. These findings indicate that in adverse environmental conditions the investment of maternal grandmothers can improve child wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuli Helle
- INVEST Research Flagship Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - Antti O Tanskanen
- Population Research Institute, Väestöliitto, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Social Research, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - David A Coall
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia
| | - Gretchen Perry
- School of Social Work, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Martin Daly
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Mirkka Danielsbacka
- INVEST Research Flagship Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Population Research Institute, Väestöliitto, Helsinki, Finland
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25
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Romero JM, Serrano-Bueno G, Camacho-Fernández C, Vicente MH, Ruiz MT, Pérez-Castiñeira JR, Pérez-Hormaeche J, Nogueira FTS, Valverde F. CONSTANS, a HUB for all seasons: How photoperiod pervades plant physiology regulatory circuits. Plant Cell 2024:koae090. [PMID: 38513610 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
How does a plant detect the changing seasons and make important developmental decisions accordingly? How do they incorporate daylength information into their routine physiological processes? Photoperiodism, or the capacity to measure the daylength, is a crucial aspect of plant development that helps plants determine the best time of the year to make vital decisions, such as flowering. The protein CONSTANS (CO) constitutes the central regulator of this sensing mechanism, not only activating florigen production in the leaves but also participating in many physiological aspects in which seasonality is important. Recent discoveries place CO in the center of a gene network that can determine the length of the day and confer seasonal input to aspects of plant development and physiology as important as senescence, seed size, or circadian rhythms. In this review, we discuss the importance of CO protein structure, function, and evolutionary mechanisms that embryophytes have developed to incorporate annual information into their physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M Romero
- Plant Development Group - Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
- Department of Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Gloria Serrano-Bueno
- Plant Development Group - Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
- Department of Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Carolina Camacho-Fernández
- Plant Development Group - Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
- Department of Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
- Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mateus Henrique Vicente
- Plant Development Group - Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Plant Development, Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" (ESALQ), University of São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - M Teresa Ruiz
- Plant Development Group - Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - J Román Pérez-Castiñeira
- Plant Development Group - Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
- Department of Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Javier Pérez-Hormaeche
- Plant Development Group - Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Fabio T S Nogueira
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Plant Development, Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" (ESALQ), University of São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Federico Valverde
- Plant Development Group - Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
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26
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Ding Q, Guo N, Gao L, McKee M, Wu D, Yang J, Fan J, Weng JK, Lei X. The evolutionary origin of naturally occurring intermolecular Diels-Alderases from Morus alba. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2492. [PMID: 38509059 PMCID: PMC10954736 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46845-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Biosynthetic enzymes evolutionarily gain novel functions, thereby expanding the structural diversity of natural products to the benefit of host organisms. Diels-Alderases (DAs), functionally unique enzymes catalysing [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, have received considerable research interest. However, their evolutionary mechanisms remain obscure. Here, we investigate the evolutionary origins of the intermolecular DAs in the biosynthesis of Moraceae plant-derived Diels-Alder-type secondary metabolites. Our findings suggest that these DAs have evolved from an ancestor functioning as a flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent oxidocyclase (OC), which catalyses the oxidative cyclisation reactions of isoprenoid-substituted phenolic compounds. Through crystal structure determination, computational calculations, and site-directed mutagenesis experiments, we identified several critical substitutions, including S348L, A357L, D389E and H418R that alter the substrate-binding mode and enable the OCs to gain intermolecular DA activity during evolution. This work provides mechanistic insights into the evolutionary rationale of DAs and paves the way for mining and engineering new DAs from other protein families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Ding
- School of Life Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Nianxin Guo
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Lei Gao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Michelle McKee
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Dongshan Wu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Junping Fan
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jing-Ke Weng
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Institute for Plant-Human Interface, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
| | - Xiaoguang Lei
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
- Institute for Cancer Research, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
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27
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Zhi Q, Tan G, Wu S, Ma Q, Fan J, Chen Y, Li J, Hu Z, Xiao Y, Li L, Liu Z, Yang Z, Yang Z, Meng D, Yin H, Tang Q, Liu T. What role do biocontrol agents with Mg 2+ play in the fate of antibiotic resistome and pathogenic bacteria in the phyllosphere? mSystems 2024:e0112623. [PMID: 38506511 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01126-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The contamination of the plant phyllosphere with antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), caused by application of antibiotics, is a significant environmental issue in agricultural management. Alternatively, biocontrol agents are environmentally friendly and have attracted a lot of interest. However, the influence of biocontrol agents on the phyllosphere resistome remains unknown. In this study, we applied biocontrol agents to control the wildfire disease in the Solanaceae crops and investigated their effects on the resistome and the pathogen in the phyllosphere by using metagenomics. A total of 250 ARGs were detected from 15 samples, which showed a variation in distribution across treatments of biocontrol agents (BA), BA with Mg2+ (T1), BA with Mn2+ (T2), and kasugamycin (T3) and nontreated (CK). The results showed that the abundance of ARGs under the treatment of BA-Mg2+ was lower than that in the CK group. The abundance of cphA3 (carbapenem resistance), PME-1 (carbapenem resistance), tcr3 (tetracycline antibiotic resistance), and AAC (3)-VIIIa (aminoglycoside antibiotic resistance) in BA-Mg2+ was significantly higher than that in BA-Mn2+ (P < 0.05). The abundance of cphA3, PME_1, and tcr3 was significantly negatively related to the abundance of the phyllosphere pathogen Pseudomonas syringae (P < 0.05). We also found that the upstream and downstream regions of cphA3 were relatively conserved, in which rpl, rpm, and rps gene families were identified in most sequences (92%). The Ka/Ks of cphA3 was 0 in all observed sequences, indicating that under the action of purifying selection, nonsynonymous substitutions are often gradually eliminated in the population. Overall, this study clarifies the effect of biocontrol agents with Mg2+ on the distribution of the phyllosphere resistome and provides evolutionary insights into the biocontrol process. IMPORTANCE Our study applied metagenomics analysis to examine the impact of biocontrol agents (BAs) on the phyllosphere resistome and the pathogen. Irregular use of antibiotics has led to the escalating dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment. The majority of BA research has focused on the effect of monospecies on the plant disease control process, the role of the compound BA with nutrition elements in the phyllosphere disease, and the resistome is still unknown. We believe BAs are eco-friendly alternatives for antibiotics to combat the transfer of ARGs. Our results revealed that BA-Mg2+ had a lower relative abundance of ARGs compared to the CK group, and the phyllosphere pathogen Pseudomonas syringae was negatively related to three specific ARGs, cphA3, PME-1, and tcr3. These three genes also present different Ka/Ks. We believe that the identification of the distribution and evolution modes of ARGs further elucidates the ecological role and facilitates the development of BAs, which will attract general interest in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiqi Zhi
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Changsha, China
| | - Ge Tan
- China Tobacco Hunan Industrial Co., Ltd., Changsha, China
| | - Shaolong Wu
- Tobacco Research Institute of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
| | - Qianqian Ma
- College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Jianqiang Fan
- Technology Center, China Tobacco Fujian Industrial Co., Ltd, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Yiqiang Chen
- Technology Center, China Tobacco Fujian Industrial Co., Ltd, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- Technology Center, China Tobacco Fujian Industrial Co., Ltd, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Zhengrong Hu
- Tobacco Research Institute of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
| | - Yansong Xiao
- Chenzhou Tobacco Company of Hunan Province, Chenzhou, China
| | - Liangzhi Li
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Changsha, China
| | - Zhenghua Liu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Changsha, China
| | - Zhaoyue Yang
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Changsha, China
| | - Zhendong Yang
- School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Delong Meng
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Changsha, China
| | - Huaqun Yin
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Changsha, China
| | - Qianjun Tang
- College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Tianbo Liu
- Tobacco Research Institute of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
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28
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Briatico G, Bocherens H, Geraads D, Melis RT, Mussi M. The Pleistocene high-elevation environments between 2.02 and 0.6 Ma at Melka Kunture (Upper Awash Valley, Ethiopia) based upon stable isotope analysis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6619. [PMID: 38503829 PMCID: PMC10950861 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56768-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Pleistocene environments are among the most studied issues in paleoecology and human evolution research in eastern Africa. Many data have been recorded from archaeological sites located at low and medium elevations (≤ 1500 m), whereas few contexts are known at 2000 m and above. Here, we present a substantial isotopic study from Melka Kunture, a complex of prehistoric sites located at 2000-2200 m above sea level in the central Ethiopian highlands. We analyzed the stable carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of 308 faunal tooth enamel samples from sites dated between 2.02 and 0.6 Ma to investigate the animal diets and habitats. The carbon isotopic results indicate that the analyzed taxa had C4-dominated and mixed C3-C4 diets with no significant diachronic changes in feeding behavior with time. This is consistent with faunal and phytolith analyses, which suggested environments characterized by open grasslands (with both C3 and C4 grasses), patches of bushes and thickets, and aquatic vegetation. However, palynological data previously documented mountain forests, woodlands, and high-elevation grasslands. Additionally, the carbon isotopic comparison with other eastern African localities shows that differences in elevation did not influence animal feeding strategies and habitat partitioning, even though plant species vary according to altitudinal gradients. In contrast, the oxygen isotopic comparison suggests significant differences consistent with the altitude effect. Our approach allows us to detect diverse aspects of animal behavior, habitat, and vegetation that should be considered when reconstructing past environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Briatico
- Dipartimento Di Scienze Dell'Antichità, Sapienza Università Di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
- Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Hölderlinstrasse 12, 72074, Tübingen, Germany.
- Italo-Spanish Archaeological Mission at Melka Kunture and Balchit, Melka Kunture, Ethiopia.
| | - Hervé Bocherens
- Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Hölderlinstrasse 12, 72074, Tübingen, Germany
- Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, Sigwartstrasse 10, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Denis Geraads
- CR2P, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, CP 38, 8 Rue Buffon, 75231, Paris cedex 05, France
| | - Rita T Melis
- Italo-Spanish Archaeological Mission at Melka Kunture and Balchit, Melka Kunture, Ethiopia
- Dipartimento Di Scienze Chimiche E Geologiche, Università Di Cagliari, 09042, Cittadella Di Monserrato, Italy
- CNR-IGAG, Piazzale Aldo Moro 7, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Margherita Mussi
- Dipartimento Di Scienze Dell'Antichità, Sapienza Università Di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
- Italo-Spanish Archaeological Mission at Melka Kunture and Balchit, Melka Kunture, Ethiopia
- ISMEO, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 244, 00186, Rome, Italy
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Joshi VR, Claiborne DT, Pack ML, Power KA, Newman RM, Batorsky R, Bean DJ, Goroff MS, Lingwood D, Seaman MS, Rosenberg E, Allen TM. A VRC13-like bNAb response is associated with complex escape pathways in HIV-1 envelope. J Virol 2024; 98:e0172023. [PMID: 38412036 PMCID: PMC10949433 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01720-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The rational design of HIV-1 immunogens to trigger the development of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) requires understanding the viral evolutionary pathways influencing this process. An acute HIV-1-infected individual exhibiting >50% plasma neutralization breadth developed neutralizing antibody specificities against the CD4-binding site (CD4bs) and V1V2 regions of Env gp120. Comparison of pseudoviruses derived from early and late autologous env sequences demonstrated the development of >2 log resistance to VRC13 but not to other CD4bs-specific bNAbs. Mapping studies indicated that the V3 and CD4-binding loops of Env gp120 contributed significantly to developing resistance to the autologous neutralizing response and that the CD4-binding loop (CD4BL) specifically was responsible for the developing resistance to VRC13. Tracking viral evolution during the development of this cross-neutralizing CD4bs response identified amino acid substitutions arising at only 4 of 11 known VRC13 contact sites (K282, T283, K421, and V471). However, each of these mutations was external to the V3 and CD4BL regions conferring resistance to VRC13 and was transient in nature. Rather, complete resistance to VRC13 was achieved through the cooperative expression of a cluster of single amino acid changes within and immediately adjacent to the CD4BL, including a T359I substitution, exchange of a potential N-linked glycosylation (PNLG) site to residue S362 from N363, and a P369L substitution. Collectively, our data characterize complex HIV-1 env evolution in an individual developing resistance to a VRC13-like neutralizing antibody response and identify novel VRC13-associated escape mutations that may be important to inducing VRC13-like bNAbs for lineage-based immunogens.IMPORTANCEThe pursuit of eliciting broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) through vaccination and their use as therapeutics remains a significant focus in the effort to eradicate HIV-1. Key to our understanding of this approach is a more extensive understanding of bNAb contact sites and susceptible escape mutations in HIV-1 envelope (env). We identified a broad neutralizer exhibiting VRC13-like responses, a non-germline restricted class of CD4-binding site antibody distinct from the well-studied VRC01-class. Through longitudinal envelope sequencing and Env-pseudotyped neutralization assays, we characterized a complex escape pathway requiring the cooperative evolution of four amino acid changes to confer complete resistance to VRC13. This suggests that VRC13-class bNAbs may be refractory to rapid escape and attractive for therapeutic applications. Furthermore, the identification of longitudinal viral changes concomitant with the development of neutralization breadth may help identify the viral intermediates needed for the maturation of VRC13-like responses and the design of lineage-based immunogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinita R. Joshi
- Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Virology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Virus Immunology, Leibniz Institute of Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Daniel T. Claiborne
- Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Melissa L. Pack
- Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Karen A. Power
- Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ruchi M. Newman
- Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rebecca Batorsky
- Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David J. Bean
- Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew S. Goroff
- Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel Lingwood
- Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael S. Seaman
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eric Rosenberg
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Todd M. Allen
- Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Keyl A, Herrfurth C, Pandey G, Kim RJ, Helwig L, Haslam TM, de Vries S, de Vries J, Gutsche N, Zachgo S, Suh MC, Kunst L, Feussner I. Divergent evolution of the alcohol-forming pathway of wax biosynthesis among bryophytes. New Phytol 2024. [PMID: 38501480 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The plant cuticle is a hydrophobic barrier, which seals the epidermal surface of most aboveground organs. While the cuticle biosynthesis of angiosperms has been intensively studied, knowledge about its existence and composition in nonvascular plants is scarce. Here, we identified and characterized homologs of Arabidopsis thaliana fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR) ECERIFERUM 4 (AtCER4) and bifunctional wax ester synthase/acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (AtWSD1) in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha (MpFAR2 and MpWSD1) and the moss Physcomitrium patens (PpFAR2A, PpFAR2B, and PpWSD1). Although bryophyte harbor similar compound classes as described for angiosperm cuticles, their biosynthesis may not be fully conserved between the bryophytes M. polymorpha and P. patens or between these bryophytes and angiosperms. While PpFAR2A and PpFAR2B contribute to the production of primary alcohols in P. patens, loss of MpFAR2 function does not affect the wax profile of M. polymorpha. By contrast, MpWSD1 acts as the major wax ester-producing enzyme in M. polymorpha, whereas mutations of PpWSD1 do not affect the wax ester levels of P. patens. Our results suggest that the biosynthetic enzymes involved in primary alcohol and wax ester formation in land plants have either evolved multiple times independently or undergone pronounced radiation followed by the formation of lineage-specific toolkits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisa Keyl
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Cornelia Herrfurth
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Garima Pandey
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Korea
| | - Ryeo Jin Kim
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Korea
| | - Lina Helwig
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Tegan M Haslam
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Sophie de Vries
- Department of Applied Bioinformatics, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Jan de Vries
- Department of Applied Bioinformatics, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
- Campus Institute Data Science (CIDAS), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
- Department of Applied Informatics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Nora Gutsche
- Division of Botany, Osnabrueck University, Osnabrueck, 49076, Germany
| | - Sabine Zachgo
- Division of Botany, Osnabrueck University, Osnabrueck, 49076, Germany
| | - Mi Chung Suh
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Korea
| | - Ljerka Kunst
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Ivo Feussner
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
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31
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Piper KR, Ikhimiukor OO, Souza SSR, Garcia-Aroca T, Andam CP. Evolutionary dynamics of the accessory genomes of Staphylococcus aureus. mSphere 2024:e0075123. [PMID: 38501935 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00751-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a ubiquitous commensal and opportunistic bacterial pathogen that can cause a wide gamut of infections, which are exacerbated by the presence of multidrug-resistant and methicillin-resistant S. aureus. S. aureus is genetically heterogeneous and consists of numerous distinct lineages. Using 558 complete genomes of S. aureus, we aim to determine how the accessory genome content among phylogenetic lineages of S. aureus is structured and has evolved. Bayesian hierarchical clustering identified 10 sequence clusters, of which seven contained major sequence types (ST 1, 5, 8, 30, 59, 239, and 398). The seven sequence clusters differed in their accessory gene content, including genes associated with antimicrobial resistance and virulence. Focusing on the two largest clusters, BAPS8 and BAPS10, and each consisting mostly of ST5 and ST8, respectively, we found that the structure and connected components in the co-occurrence networks of accessory genomes varied between them. These differences are explained, in part, by the variation in the rates at which the two sequence clusters gained and lost accessory genes, with the highest rate of gene accumulation occurring recently in their evolutionary histories. We also identified a divergent group within BAPS10 that has experienced high gene gain and loss early in its history. Together, our results show highly variable and dynamic accessory genomes in S. aureus that are structured by the history of the specific lineages that carry them.IMPORTANCEStaphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic, multi-host pathogen that can cause a variety of benign and life-threatening infections. Our results revealed considerable differences in the structure and evolution of the accessory genomes of major lineages within S. aureus. Such genomic variation within a species can have important implications on disease epidemiology, pathogenesis of infection, and interactions with the vertebrate host. Our findings provide important insights into the underlying genetic basis for the success of S. aureus as a highly adaptable and resistant pathogen, which will inform current efforts to control and treat staphylococcal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn R Piper
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Odion O Ikhimiukor
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Stephanie S R Souza
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Teddy Garcia-Aroca
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Cheryl P Andam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA
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32
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Duran DP, Laroche RA, Roman SJ, Godwin W, Herrmann DP, Bull E, Egan SP. Species delimitation, discovery and conservation in a tiger beetle species complex despite discordant genetic data. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6617. [PMID: 38503840 PMCID: PMC10951344 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56875-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
In an age of species declines, delineating and discovering biodiversity is critical for both taxonomic accuracy and conservation. In recent years, there has been a movement away from using exclusively morphological characters to delineate and describe taxa and an increase in the use of molecular markers to describe diversity or through integrative taxonomy, which employs traditional morphological characters, as well as genetic or other data. Tiger beetles are charismatic, of conservation concern, and much work has been done on the morphological delineation of species and subspecies, but few of these taxa have been tested with genetic analyses. In this study, we tested morphologically based taxonomic hypotheses of polymorphic tiger beetles in the Eunota circumpicta (LaFerté-Sénectère, 1841) species complex using multilocus genomic and mtDNA analyses. We find multiple cryptic species within the previous taxonomic concept of Eunota circumpicta, some of which were historically recognized as subspecies. We found that the mtDNA and genomic datasets did not identify the same taxonomic units and that the mtDNA was most at odds with all other genetic and morphological patterns. Overall, we describe new cryptic diversity, which raises important conservation concerns, and provide a working example for testing species and subspecies validity despite discordant data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P Duran
- Department of Environmental Science, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, 08028, USA.
| | - Robert A Laroche
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Stephen J Roman
- Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA
| | - William Godwin
- Sam Houston State Natural History Collection, Huntsville, TX, 77340, USA
| | | | - Ethan Bull
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Scott P Egan
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
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Billman ZP, Kovacs SB, Wei B, Kang K, Cissé OH, Miao EA. Caspase-1 activates gasdermin A in non-mammals. eLife 2024; 12:RP92362. [PMID: 38497531 PMCID: PMC10948149 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Gasdermins oligomerize to form pores in the cell membrane, causing regulated lytic cell death called pyroptosis. Mammals encode five gasdermins that can trigger pyroptosis: GSDMA, B, C, D, and E. Caspase and granzyme proteases cleave the linker regions of and activate GSDMB, C, D, and E, but no endogenous activation pathways are yet known for GSDMA. Here, we perform a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of the gasdermin family. A gene duplication of GSDMA in the common ancestor of caecilian amphibians, reptiles, and birds gave rise to GSDMA-D in mammals. Uniquely in our tree, amphibian, reptile, and bird GSDMA group in a separate clade than mammal GSDMA. Remarkably, GSDMA in numerous bird species contain caspase-1 cleavage sites like YVAD or FASD in the linker. We show that GSDMA from birds, amphibians, and reptiles are all cleaved by caspase-1. Thus, GSDMA was originally cleaved by the host-encoded protease caspase-1. In mammals the caspase-1 cleavage site in GSDMA is disrupted; instead, a new protein, GSDMD, is the target of caspase-1. Mammal caspase-1 uses exosite interactions with the GSDMD C-terminal domain to confer the specificity of this interaction, whereas we show that bird caspase-1 uses a stereotypical tetrapeptide sequence to confer specificity for bird GSDMA. Our results reveal an evolutionarily stable association between caspase-1 and the gasdermin family, albeit a shifting one. Caspase-1 repeatedly changes its target gasdermin over evolutionary time at speciation junctures, initially cleaving GSDME in fish, then GSDMA in amphibians/reptiles/birds, and finally GSDMD in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Paul Billman
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology; Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Pathology; and Cell Biology, Duke University School of MedicineDurhamUnited States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillUnited States
| | - Stephen Bela Kovacs
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology; Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Pathology; and Cell Biology, Duke University School of MedicineDurhamUnited States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillUnited States
| | - Bo Wei
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology; Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Pathology; and Cell Biology, Duke University School of MedicineDurhamUnited States
| | - Kidong Kang
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology; Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Pathology; and Cell Biology, Duke University School of MedicineDurhamUnited States
| | - Ousmane H Cissé
- Critical Care Medicine Department, National Institutes of Health Clinical CenterBethesdaUnited States
| | - Edward A Miao
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology; Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Pathology; and Cell Biology, Duke University School of MedicineDurhamUnited States
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Xu H, Yuan Z, Qin K, Jiang S, Sun L. The molecular mechanism and evolutionary divergence of caspase 3/7-regulated gasdermin E activation. eLife 2024; 12:RP89974. [PMID: 38489483 PMCID: PMC10942788 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Caspase (CASP) is a family of proteases involved in cleavage and activation of gasdermin, the executor of pyroptosis. In humans, CASP3 and CASP7 recognize the same consensus motif DxxD, which is present in gasdermin E (GSDME). However, human GSDME is cleaved by CASP3 but not by CASP7. The underlying mechanism of this observation is unclear. In this study, we identified a pyroptotic pufferfish GSDME that was cleaved by both pufferfish CASP3/7 and human CASP3/7. Domain swapping between pufferfish and human CASP and GSDME showed that the GSDME C-terminus and the CASP7 p10 subunit determined the cleavability of GSDME by CASP7. p10 contains a key residue that governs CASP7 substrate discrimination. This key residue is highly conserved in vertebrate CASP3 and in most vertebrate (except mammalian) CASP7. In mammals, the key residue is conserved in non-primates (e.g., mouse) but not in primates. However, mouse CASP7 cleaved human GSDME but not mouse GSDME. These findings revealed the molecular mechanism of CASP7 substrate discrimination and the divergence of CASP3/7-mediated GSDME activation in vertebrate. These results also suggested that mutation-mediated functional alteration of CASP probably enabled the divergence and specialization of different CASP members in the regulation of complex cellular activities in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Xu
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology; CAS Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoChina
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology CenterQingdaoChina
- College of Marine Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoChina
| | - Zihao Yuan
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology; CAS Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoChina
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology CenterQingdaoChina
| | - Kunpeng Qin
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology; CAS Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoChina
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology CenterQingdaoChina
- College of Marine Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoChina
| | - Shuai Jiang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology; CAS Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoChina
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology CenterQingdaoChina
- College of Marine Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoChina
| | - Li Sun
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology; CAS Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoChina
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology CenterQingdaoChina
- College of Marine Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesQingdaoChina
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35
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Ma F, Zheng C. Single-cell phylotranscriptomics of developmental and cell type evolution. Trends Genet 2024:S0168-9525(24)00032-5. [PMID: 38490933 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Single-cell phylotranscriptomics is an emerging tool to reveal the molecular and cellular mechanisms of evolution. We summarize its utility in studying the hourglass pattern of ontogenetic evolution and for understanding the evolutionary history of cell types. The developmental hourglass model suggests that the mid-embryonic stage is the most conserved period of development across species, which is supported by morphological and molecular studies. Single-cell phylotranscriptomic analysis has revealed previously underappreciated heterogeneity in transcriptome ages among lineages and cell types throughout development, and has identified the lineages and tissues that drive the whole-organism hourglass pattern. Single-cell transcriptome age analyses also provide important insights into the origin of germ layers, the different selective forces on tissues during adaptation, and the evolutionary relationships between cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuqiang Ma
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chaogu Zheng
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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36
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Garrido Marques A, Rubinacci S, Malaspinas AS, Delaneau O, Sousa da Mota B. Assessing the impact of post-mortem damage and contamination on imputation performance in ancient DNA. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6227. [PMID: 38486065 PMCID: PMC10940295 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56584-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Low-coverage imputation is becoming ever more present in ancient DNA (aDNA) studies. Imputation pipelines commonly used for present-day genomes have been shown to yield accurate results when applied to ancient genomes. However, post-mortem damage (PMD), in the form of C-to-T substitutions at the reads termini, and contamination with DNA from closely related species can potentially affect imputation performance in aDNA. In this study, we evaluated imputation performance (i) when using a genotype caller designed for aDNA, ATLAS, compared to bcftools, and (ii) when contamination is present. We evaluated imputation performance with principal component analyses and by calculating imputation error rates. With a particular focus on differently imputed sites, we found that using ATLAS prior to imputation substantially improved imputed genotypes for a very damaged ancient genome (42% PMD). Trimming the ends of the sequencing reads led to similar improvements in imputation accuracy. For the remaining genomes, ATLAS brought limited gains. Finally, to examine the effect of contamination on imputation, we added various amounts of reads from two present-day genomes to a previously downsampled high-coverage ancient genome. We observed that imputation accuracy drastically decreased for contamination rates above 5%. In conclusion, we recommend (i) accounting for PMD by either trimming sequencing reads or using a genotype caller such as ATLAS before imputing highly damaged genomes and (ii) only imputing genomes containing up to 5% of contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simone Rubinacci
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Anna-Sapfo Malaspinas
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Bárbara Sousa da Mota
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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37
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Wang XJ, Li Q, Ye ZX, Huang HJ. A pipeline contributes to efficient identification of salivary proteins in short-headed planthopper, Epeurysa nawaii. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6225. [PMID: 38486094 PMCID: PMC10940699 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56896-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Saliva, an oral secretion primarily originating from salivary glands (SGs), exert critical roles in the ongoing evolutionary interaction between insects and plants. However, identifying insect salivary components poses challenges due to the tiny size of insects, low secretion amounts, and the propensity for degradation after secretion. In this study, we developed a transcriptome-based approach to comprehensively analyze the salivary proteins of the short-headed planthopper, Epeurysa nawaii, a species with unique feeding habits on bamboo. A total of 165 salivary proteins were identified, with 114 secretory genes highly and specifically expressed in SGs. Consistent with most phloem-feeding insects, digestive enzymes, calcium-binding proteins, oxidoreductases, and a few previously reported salivary effectors were ubiquitously distributed in E. nawaii saliva. However, we also identified a substantial portion of salivary proteins exhibiting taxonomy specificity, including 60 E. nawaii-specific and 62 Delphacidae-specific proteins. These taxonomy-restricted proteins potentially play a role in insect adaptation to specific host plants. Our study provides an efficient pipeline for salivary protein identification and serves as a valuable resource for the functional characterization of effectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Qiao Li
- Animal and Plant Quarantine Service, Technology Center of Wuhan Customs District, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhuang-Xin Ye
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Hai-Jian Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
- Animal and Plant Quarantine Service, Technology Center of Wuhan Customs District, Wuhan, China.
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38
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Berdejo D, Mortier J, Cambré A, Sobota M, Van Eyken R, Kim TD, Vanoirbeek K, García Gonzalo D, Pagán R, Diard M, Aertsen A. Evolutionary trade-off between heat shock resistance, growth at high temperature, and virulence expression in Salmonella Typhimurium. mBio 2024; 15:e0310523. [PMID: 38349183 PMCID: PMC10936172 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03105-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the evolutionary dynamics of foodborne pathogens throughout our food production chain is of utmost importance. In this study, we reveal that Salmonella Typhimurium can readily and reproducibly acquire vastly increased heat shock resistance upon repeated exposure to heat shock. Counterintuitively, this boost in heat shock resistance was invariantly acquired through loss-of-function mutations in the dnaJ gene, encoding a heat shock protein that acts as a molecular co-chaperone of DnaK and enables its role in protein folding and disaggregation. As a trade-off, however, the acquisition of heat shock resistance inevitably led to attenuated growth at 37°C and higher temperatures. Interestingly, loss of DnaJ also downregulated the activity of the master virulence regulator HilD, thereby lowering the fraction of virulence-expressing cells within the population and attenuating virulence in mice. By connecting heat shock resistance evolution to attenuation of HilD activity, our results confirm the complex interplay between stress resistance and virulence in Salmonella Typhimurium. IMPORTANCE Bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella Typhimurium are equipped with both stress response and virulence features in order to navigate across a variety of complex inhospitable environments that range from food-processing plants up to the gastrointestinal tract of its animal host. In this context, however, it remains obscure whether and how adaptation to one environment would obstruct fitness in another. In this study, we reveal that severe heat stress counterintuitively, but invariantly, led to the selection of S. Typhimurium mutants that are compromised in the activity of the DnaJ heat shock protein. While these mutants obtained massively increased heat resistance, their virulence became greatly attenuated. Our observations, therefore, reveal a delicate balance between optimal tuning of stress response and virulence features in bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Berdejo
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Julien Mortier
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alexander Cambré
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Ronald Van Eyken
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tom Dongmin Kim
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kristof Vanoirbeek
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Diego García Gonzalo
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Rafael Pagán
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Abram Aertsen
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Liu M, Yu J, Yang M, Cao L, Chen C. Adaptive evolution of chloroplast division mechanisms during plant terrestrialization. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113950. [PMID: 38489264 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite extensive research, the origin and evolution of the chloroplast division machinery remain unclear. Here, we employ recently sequenced genomes and transcriptomes of Archaeplastida clades to identify the core components of chloroplast division and reconstruct their evolutionary histories, respectively. Our findings show that complete division ring structures emerged in Charophytes. We find that Glaucophytes experienced strong selection pressure, generating diverse variants adapted to the changing terrestrial environments. By integrating the functions of chloroplast division genes (CDGs) annotated in a workflow developed using large-scale multi-omics data, we further show that dispersed duplications acquire more species-specific functions under stronger selection pressures. Notably, PARC6, a dispersed duplicate CDG, regulates leaf color and plant growth in Solanum lycopersicum, demonstrating neofunctionalization. Our findings provide an integrated perspective on the functional evolution of chloroplast division machinery and highlight the potential of dispersed duplicate genes as the primary source of adaptive evolution of chloroplast division.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moyang Liu
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center of Agri-Seeds, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Joint Center for Single Cell Biology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jing Yu
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center of Agri-Seeds, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Joint Center for Single Cell Biology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Ming Yang
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center of Agri-Seeds, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Joint Center for Single Cell Biology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Lingyan Cao
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center of Agri-Seeds, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Joint Center for Single Cell Biology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
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Nosil P, Gompert Z, Funk DJ. Divergent dynamics of sexual and habitat isolation at the transition between stick insect populations and species. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2273. [PMID: 38480699 PMCID: PMC10937975 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46294-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Speciation is often viewed as a continuum along which populations diverge until they become reproductively-isolated species. However, such divergence may be heterogeneous, proceeding in fits and bursts, rather than being uniform and gradual. We show in Timema stick insects that one component of reproductive isolation evolves non-uniformly across this continuum, whereas another does not. Specifically, we use thousands of host-preference and mating trials to study habitat and sexual isolation among 42 pairs of taxa spanning a range of genomic differentiation and divergence time. We find that habitat isolation is uncoupled from genomic differentiation within species, but accumulates linearly with it between species. In contrast, sexual isolation accumulates linearly across the speciation continuum, and thus exhibits similar dynamics to morphological traits not implicated in reproductive isolation. The results show different evolutionary dynamics for different components of reproductive isolation and highlight a special relevance for species status in the process of speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrik Nosil
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Daniel J Funk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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41
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King MR, Ruff KM, Lin AZ, Pant A, Farag M, Lalmansingh JM, Wu T, Fossat MJ, Ouyang W, Lew MD, Lundberg E, Vahey MD, Pappu RV. Macromolecular condensation organizes nucleolar sub-phases to set up a pH gradient. Cell 2024:S0092-8674(24)00232-0. [PMID: 38503281 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Nucleoli are multicomponent condensates defined by coexisting sub-phases. We identified distinct intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), including acidic (D/E) tracts and K-blocks interspersed by E-rich regions, as defining features of nucleolar proteins. We show that the localization preferences of nucleolar proteins are determined by their IDRs and the types of RNA or DNA binding domains they encompass. In vitro reconstitutions and studies in cells showed how condensation, which combines binding and complex coacervation of nucleolar components, contributes to nucleolar organization. D/E tracts of nucleolar proteins contribute to lowering the pH of co-condensates formed with nucleolar RNAs in vitro. In cells, this sets up a pH gradient between nucleoli and the nucleoplasm. By contrast, juxta-nucleolar bodies, which have different macromolecular compositions, featuring protein IDRs with very different charge profiles, have pH values that are equivalent to or higher than the nucleoplasm. Our findings show that distinct compositional specificities generate distinct physicochemical properties for condensates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R King
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Biomolecular Condensates, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kiersten M Ruff
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Biomolecular Condensates, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Andrew Z Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Biomolecular Condensates, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Avnika Pant
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Biomolecular Condensates, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Mina Farag
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Biomolecular Condensates, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jared M Lalmansingh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Biomolecular Condensates, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tingting Wu
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, James F. McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Martin J Fossat
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Biomolecular Condensates, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Wei Ouyang
- Department of Bioengineering, Schools of Engineering and Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Science for Life Laboratory, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matthew D Lew
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, James F. McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Emma Lundberg
- Department of Bioengineering, Schools of Engineering and Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Science for Life Laboratory, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Michael D Vahey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Biomolecular Condensates, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Rohit V Pappu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Biomolecular Condensates, James McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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Lewitus E, Li Y, Bai H, Pham P, Rolland M. HIV-1 Gag, Pol, and Env diversified with limited adaptation since the 1980s. mBio 2024; 15:e0174923. [PMID: 38329340 PMCID: PMC10936417 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01749-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of HIV-1 global sequence diversity is critical for developing an effective prophylactic against HIV-1 infection. We developed the Hervé platform to analyze and visualize trends in HIV-1 diversification. Using Hervé, we analyzed 4,830 Env, 4,407 Gag, and 3,002 Pol publicly available independent sequences corresponding to subtypes A1, A6, B, C, D, F1, and G and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) 01_AE, 02_AG, and 07_BC; sequences were sampled between 1980 and 2020 from 82 countries. HIV-1 diversified with a median of 1.82 amino acid substitutions per year in Env, 0.297 in Gag, and 0.779 in Pol. Yet, Env subtype B diversification plateaued post-2000. Pairwise diversity within subtypes and CRFs increased by 41.82% (range = 24.85%-54.41%) in Env, 56.93% (15.38%-89.16%) in Gag, and 46.12% (11.70%-70.57%) in Pol. Consensus sequences based on sequences sampled in each decade remained relatively stable over time. Similarly, at antibody epitope sites, only 0-8 residues that were minority variants became consensus over time in any subtype/CRF and only one known drug resistance mutation site differed from the reference (subtype G). The apparent contradiction between the fast diversification of HIV-1 and its limited adaptation illustrates that HIV-1 evolution is not directional and its consensus is at the intersection of millions of within-host selective processes occurring in a star-like manner. While a consensus sequence is a better representation of HIV-1 diversity than any individual sequence, consensus sequences have progressively become more distant from the circulating sequences they represent. IMPORTANCE Global surveillance of HIV-1 sequences is critical for designing relevant prophylactic and therapeutic interventions to infection. We designed an open-source platform, Hervé, for analyzing and visualizing the diversification dynamics of HIV-1 protein sequences. We characterized the evolution of over 12,000 HIV-1 Env, Gag, and Pol protein sequences from 1980-2020 and found that, despite a steady increase in intra-subtype and circulating recombinant form diversity, the most frequent residue at each site, i.e., the consensus, has varied only moderately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Lewitus
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Yifan Li
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Hongjun Bai
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Phuc Pham
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Morgane Rolland
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Cissé OH, Curran SJ, Folco HD, Liu Y, Bishop L, Wang H, Fischer ER, Davis AS, Combs C, Thapar S, Dekker JP, Grewal S, Cushion M, Ma L, Kovacs JA. Regional centromere configuration in the fungal pathogens of the Pneumocystis genus. mBio 2024; 15:e0318523. [PMID: 38380929 PMCID: PMC10936427 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03185-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Centromeres are constricted chromosomal regions that are essential for cell division. In eukaryotes, centromeres display a remarkable architectural and genetic diversity. The basis of centromere-accelerated evolution remains elusive. Here, we focused on Pneumocystis species, a group of mammalian-specific fungal pathogens that form a sister taxon with that of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe, an important genetic model for centromere biology research. Methods allowing reliable continuous culture of Pneumocystis species do not currently exist, precluding genetic manipulation. CENP-A, a variant of histone H3, is the epigenetic marker that defines centromeres in most eukaryotes. Using heterologous complementation, we show that the Pneumocystis CENP-A ortholog is functionally equivalent to CENP-ACnp1 of S. pombe. Using organisms from a short-term in vitro culture or infected animal models and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-Seq, we identified CENP-A bound regions in two Pneumocystis species that diverged ~35 million years ago. Each species has a unique short regional centromere (<10 kb) flanked by heterochromatin in 16-17 monocentric chromosomes. They span active genes and lack conserved DNA sequence motifs and repeats. These features suggest an epigenetic specification of centromere function. Analysis of centromeric DNA across multiple Pneumocystis species suggests a vertical transmission at least 100 million years ago. The common ancestry of Pneumocystis and S. pombe centromeres is untraceable at the DNA level, but the overall architectural similarity could be the result of functional constraint for successful chromosomal segregation.IMPORTANCEPneumocystis species offer a suitable genetic system to study centromere evolution in pathogens because of their phylogenetic proximity with the non-pathogenic yeast S. pombe, a popular model for cell biology. We used this system to explore how centromeres have evolved after the divergence of the two clades ~ 460 million years ago. To address this question, we established a protocol combining short-term culture and ChIP-Seq to characterize centromeres in multiple Pneumocystis species. We show that Pneumocystis have short epigenetic centromeres that function differently from those in S. pombe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ousmane H. Cissé
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Shelly J. Curran
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - H. Diego Folco
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Yueqin Liu
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Lisa Bishop
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Honghui Wang
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Elizabeth R. Fischer
- Microscopy Unit, Research Technologies Branch, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - A. Sally Davis
- Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Christian Combs
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sabrina Thapar
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - John P. Dekker
- Bacterial Pathogenesis and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, National Institute of Allergy, and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Shiv Grewal
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Melanie Cushion
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Liang Ma
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph A. Kovacs
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Żuromski D, Pacholik-Żuromska A. Socio-cultural brain reprogramming-The uniqueness of human cognition. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1331213. [PMID: 38532787 PMCID: PMC10963407 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1331213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Anita Pacholik-Żuromska
- Department of Cognitive Science, Institute of Information and Communication Research, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland
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45
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Bayliss J, Bittencourt-Silva GB, Branch WR, Bruessow C, Collins S, Congdon TCE, Conradie W, Curran M, Daniels SR, Darbyshire I, Farooq H, Fishpool L, Grantham G, Magombo Z, Matimele H, Monadjem A, Monteiro J, Osborne J, Saunders J, Smith P, Spottiswoode CN, Taylor PJ, Timberlake J, Tolley KA, Tovela É, Platts PJ. A biogeographical appraisal of the threatened South East Africa Montane Archipelago ecoregion. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5971. [PMID: 38472297 PMCID: PMC10933300 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54671-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent biological surveys of ancient inselbergs in southern Malawi and northern Mozambique have led to the discovery and description of many species new to science, and overlapping centres of endemism across multiple taxa. Combining these endemic taxa with data on geology and climate, we propose the 'South East Africa Montane Archipelago' (SEAMA) as a distinct ecoregion of global biological importance. The ecoregion encompasses 30 granitic inselbergs reaching > 1000 m above sea level, hosting the largest (Mt Mabu) and smallest (Mt Lico) mid-elevation rainforests in southern Africa, as well as biologically unique montane grasslands. Endemic taxa include 127 plants, 45 vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) and 45 invertebrate species (butterflies, freshwater crabs), and two endemic genera of plants and reptiles. Existing dated phylogenies of endemic animal lineages suggests this endemism arose from divergence events coinciding with repeated isolation of these mountains from the pan-African forests, together with the mountains' great age and relative climatic stability. Since 2000, the SEAMA has lost 18% of its primary humid forest cover (up to 43% in some sites)-one of the highest deforestation rates in Africa. Urgently rectifying this situation, while addressing the resource needs of local communities, is a global priority for biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Bayliss
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK.
- African Butterfly Research Institute, P.O. Box 14308, Nairobi, 0800, Kenya.
- Rede Para Gestão Comunitária de Recursos Naturais (ReGeCom), Maputo, Mozambique.
| | | | - William R Branch
- Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), P.O. Box 13147, Humewood, 6013, South Africa
| | - Carl Bruessow
- Mount Mulanje Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 139, Mulanje, Malawi
| | - Steve Collins
- African Butterfly Research Institute, P.O. Box 14308, Nairobi, 0800, Kenya
| | - T Colin E Congdon
- African Butterfly Research Institute, P.O. Box 14308, Nairobi, 0800, Kenya
| | - Werner Conradie
- Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), P.O. Box 13147, Humewood, 6013, South Africa
- Department of Nature Conservation Management, Faculty of Science, Nelson Mandela University, George, South Africa
| | - Michael Curran
- Department of Food System Science, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Ackerstrasse 113, P.O. Box 219, 5070, Frick, Switzerland
| | - Savel R Daniels
- Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
| | | | - Harith Farooq
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Lúrio University, Pemba, Mozambique
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lincoln Fishpool
- BirdLife International, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK
| | - Geoffrey Grantham
- Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Zacharia Magombo
- National Herbarium and Botanical Gardens of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi
| | - Hermenegildo Matimele
- Herbarium, Instituto de Investigaçao Agraria de Moçambique, P.O.Box 3658, Maputo, Mozambique
- DICE, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NZ, UK
- Wildlife Conservation Society, 163 Orlando Mendes Street, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Ara Monadjem
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eswatini, Kwaluseni, Eswatini
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa
| | - Jose Monteiro
- Rede Para Gestão Comunitária de Recursos Naturais (ReGeCom), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Jo Osborne
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, UK
| | - Justin Saunders
- Africa Bees Ltd, Belgrave House, 39-43 Monument Hill, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 8RN, UK
| | - Paul Smith
- Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), 199 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3BW, UK
| | - Claire N Spottiswoode
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Peter J Taylor
- Biological Sciences Department, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
- Afromontane Research Unit and Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | | | - Krystal A Tolley
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Claremont, Private Bag X7, Cape Town, 7735, South Africa
- Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa
| | - Érica Tovela
- Museu de História Natural, Praça Travessia do Zambeze, 104, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Philip J Platts
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York, YO10 5NG, UK
- BeZero Carbon Ltd, 25 Christopher Street, London, E2, UK
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Bouvier JW, Emms DM, Kelly S. Rubisco is evolving for improved catalytic efficiency and CO 2 assimilation in plants. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2321050121. [PMID: 38442173 PMCID: PMC10945770 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321050121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Rubisco is the primary entry point for carbon into the biosphere. However, rubisco is widely regarded as inefficient leading many to question whether the enzyme can adapt to become a better catalyst. Through a phylogenetic investigation of the molecular and kinetic evolution of Form I rubisco we uncover the evolutionary trajectory of rubisco kinetic evolution in angiosperms. We show that rbcL is among the 1% of slowest-evolving genes and enzymes on Earth, accumulating one nucleotide substitution every 0.9 My and one amino acid mutation every 7.2 My. Despite this, rubisco catalysis has been continually evolving toward improved CO2/O2 specificity, carboxylase turnover, and carboxylation efficiency. Consistent with this kinetic adaptation, increased rubisco evolution has led to a concomitant improvement in leaf-level CO2 assimilation. Thus, rubisco has been slowly but continually evolving toward improved catalytic efficiency and CO2 assimilation in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques W Bouvier
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, United Kingdom
| | - David M Emms
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, United Kingdom
| | - Steven Kelly
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, United Kingdom
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Ahator SD, Wenzl K, Hegstad K, Lentz CS, Johannessen M. Comprehensive virulence profiling and evolutionary analysis of specificity determinants in Staphylococcus aureus two-component systems. mSystems 2024:e0013024. [PMID: 38470253 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00130-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
In the Staphylococcus aureus genome, a set of highly conserved two-component systems (TCSs) composed of histidine kinases (HKs) and their cognate response regulators (RRs) sense and respond to environmental stimuli, which drive the adaptation of the bacteria. This study investigates the complex interplay between TCSs in S. aureus USA300, a predominant methicillin-resistant S. aureus strain, revealing shared and unique virulence regulatory pathways and genetic variations mediating signal specificity within TCSs. Using TCS-related mutants from the Nebraska Transposon Mutant Library, we analyzed the effects of inactivated TCS HKs and RRs on the production of various virulence factors, in vitro infection abilities, and adhesion assays. We found that the TCSs' influence on virulence determinants was not associated with their phylogenetic relationship, indicating divergent functional evolution. Using the co-crystallized structure of the DesK-DesR from Bacillus subtilis and the modeled structures of the four NarL TCSs in S. aureus, we identified interacting residues, revealing specificity determinants and conservation within the same TCS, even from different strain backgrounds. The interacting residues were highly conserved within strains but varied between species due to selection pressures and the coevolution of cognate pairs. This study unveils the complex interplay and divergent functional evolution of TCSs, highlighting their potential for future experimental exploration of phosphotransfer between cognate and non-cognate recombinant HK and RRs.IMPORTANCEGiven the widespread conservation of two-component systems (TCSs) in bacteria and their pivotal role in regulating metabolic and virulence pathways, they present a compelling target for anti-microbial agents, especially in the face of rising multi-drug-resistant infections. Harnessing TCSs therapeutically necessitates a profound understanding of their evolutionary trajectory in signal transduction, as this underlies their unique or shared virulence regulatory pathways. Such insights are critical for effectively targeting TCS components, ensuring an optimized impact on bacterial virulence, and mitigating the risk of resistance emergence via the evolution of alternative pathways. Our research offers an in-depth exploration of virulence determinants controlled by TCSs in S. aureus, shedding light on the evolving specificity determinants that orchestrate interactions between their cognate pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Dela Ahator
- Research Group for Host-Microbe Interactions, Centre for New Antibacterial Strategies (CANS), Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT- The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Karoline Wenzl
- Research Group for Host-Microbe Interactions, Centre for New Antibacterial Strategies (CANS), Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT- The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kristin Hegstad
- Research Group for Host-Microbe Interactions, Centre for New Antibacterial Strategies (CANS), Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT- The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Christian S Lentz
- Research Group for Host-Microbe Interactions, Centre for New Antibacterial Strategies (CANS), Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT- The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Mona Johannessen
- Research Group for Host-Microbe Interactions, Centre for New Antibacterial Strategies (CANS), Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT- The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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Bénitière F, Necsulea A, Duret L. Random genetic drift sets an upper limit on mRNA splicing accuracy in metazoans. eLife 2024; 13:RP93629. [PMID: 38470242 DOI: 10.7554/elife.93629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Most eukaryotic genes undergo alternative splicing (AS), but the overall functional significance of this process remains a controversial issue. It has been noticed that the complexity of organisms (assayed by the number of distinct cell types) correlates positively with their genome-wide AS rate. This has been interpreted as evidence that AS plays an important role in adaptive evolution by increasing the functional repertoires of genomes. However, this observation also fits with a totally opposite interpretation: given that 'complex' organisms tend to have small effective population sizes (Ne), they are expected to be more affected by genetic drift, and hence more prone to accumulate deleterious mutations that decrease splicing accuracy. Thus, according to this 'drift barrier' theory, the elevated AS rate in complex organisms might simply result from a higher splicing error rate. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed 3496 transcriptome sequencing samples to quantify AS in 53 metazoan species spanning a wide range of Ne values. Our results show a negative correlation between Ne proxies and the genome-wide AS rates among species, consistent with the drift barrier hypothesis. This pattern is dominated by low abundance isoforms, which represent the vast majority of the splice variant repertoire. We show that these low abundance isoforms are depleted in functional AS events, and most likely correspond to errors. Conversely, the AS rate of abundant isoforms, which are relatively enriched in functional AS events, tends to be lower in more complex species. All these observations are consistent with the hypothesis that variation in AS rates across metazoans reflects the limits set by drift on the capacity of selection to prevent gene expression errors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Bénitière
- Laboratoire de Biometrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, Universite Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Anamaria Necsulea
- Laboratoire de Biometrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, Universite Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Laurent Duret
- Laboratoire de Biometrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, Universite Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
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van Harten MJ, Roobol MJ, van Leeuwen PJ, Willemse PPM, van den Bergh RCN. Evolution of European prostate cancer screening protocols and summary of ongoing trials. BJU Int 2024. [PMID: 38469728 DOI: 10.1111/bju.16311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Population-based organised repeated screening for prostate cancer has been found to reduce disease-specific mortality, but with substantial overdiagnosis leading to overtreatment. Although only very few countries have implemented a screening programme on a national level, individual prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing is common. This opportunistic testing may have little favourable impact, while stressing the side-effects. The classic early detection protocols as were state-of-the-art in the 1990s applied a PSA and digital rectal examination threshold for sextant systematic prostate biopsy, with a fixed interval for re-testing, and limited indication for expectant management. In the three decades since these trials were started, different important improvements have become available in the cascade of screening, indication for biopsy, and treatment. The main developed aspects include: better identification of individuals at risk (using early/baseline PSA, family history, and/or genetic profile), individualised re-testing interval, optimised and individualised starting and stopping age, with gradual invitation at a fixed age rather than invitation of a wider range of age groups, risk stratification for biopsy (using PSA density, risk calculator, magnetic resonance imaging, serum and urine biomarkers, or combinations/sequences), targeted biopsy, transperineal biopsy approach, active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer, and improved staging of disease. All these developments are suggested to decrease the side-effects of screening, while at least maintaining the advantages, but Level 1 evidence is lacking. The knowledge gained and new developments on early detection are being tested in different prospective screening trials throughout Europe. In addition, the European Union-funded PRostate cancer Awareness and Initiative for Screening in the European Union (PRAISE-U) project will compare and evaluate different screening pilots throughout Europe. Implementation and sustainability will also be addressed. Modern screening approaches may reduce the burden of the second most frequent cause of cancer-related death in European males, while minimising side-effects. Also, less efficacious opportunistic early detection may be indirectly reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meike J van Harten
- Cancer Center, Department of Urology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Monique J Roobol
- Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Peter-Paul M Willemse
- Cancer Center, Department of Urology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Roderick C N van den Bergh
- Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- St Antonius Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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50
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Park H, Park JH, Kang YJ. Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Wolffia arrhiza and comparative genomic analysis with relative Wolffia species. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5873. [PMID: 38467810 PMCID: PMC10928178 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56394-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Lemnoideae, commonly referred to as the duckweed, are aquatic plants found worldwide. Wolffia species are known for their extreme reduction in size and complexity, lacking both roots and leaves, and they hold the distinction of being the smallest plants among angiosperms. Interestingly, it belongs to the Araceae family, despite its apparent morphological differences from land plants in the same family. Traditional morphological methods have limitations in classifying these plants, making molecular-level information essential. The chloroplast genome of Wolffia arrhiza is revealed that a total length of 169,602 bp and a total GC content of 35.78%. It follows the typical quadripartite structure, which includes a large single copy (LSC, 92,172 bp) region, a small single copy (SSC, 13,686 bp) region, and a pair of inverted repeat (IR, 31,872 bp each) regions. There are 131 genes characterized, comprising 86 Protein-Coding Genes, 37 Transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Moreover, 48 simple sequence repeats and 32 long repeat sequences were detected. Comparative analysis between W. arrhiza and six other Lemnoideae species identified 12 hotspots of high nucleotide diversity. In addition, a phylogenetic analysis was performed using 14 species belonging to the Araceae family and one external species as an outgroup. This analysis unveiled W. arrhiza and Wolffia globosa as closely related sister species. Therefore, this research has revealed the complete chloroplast genome data of W. arrhiza, offering a more detailed understanding of its evolutionary position and phylogenetic categorization within the Lemnoideae subfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halim Park
- Division of Bio and Medical Bigdata Department (BK4 Program), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Yang Jae Kang
- Division of Bio and Medical Bigdata Department (BK4 Program), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea.
- Division of Life Science Department at Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
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