Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samuel Wittwer, Livia Gerber, Simon J. Allen, Erik P. Willems, Svenja M. Marfurt, Michael Krutzen
Summary: This study investigated the colonization history of Tursiops aduncus populations along the Western Australian coastline. The results showed that these populations likely originated from the north and expanded southwards after the last glacial maximum. It highlights the ability of dolphins to rapidly adapt to changing coastal environments in response to global sea level and temperature changes.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Katharina J. Peters, Livia Gerber, Luca Scheu, Riccardo Cicciarella, Joseph A. Zoller, Zhe Fei, Steve Horvath, Simon J. Allen, Stephanie L. King, Richard C. Connor, Lee Ann Rollins, Michael Krutzen
Summary: The use of epigenetic clocks allows accurate age determination and sex prediction for Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, providing a non-invasive method for extracting life history information.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Changzhu Jin, Miyeon Kim, Soojin Jang, Dong-Guk Paeng
Summary: Passive acoustic monitoring is commonly used to study cetacean species, but automated methods for extracting their vocalizations face challenges. This study developed a convolutional neural network to extract whistle contours of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins, showing high accuracy and precision. The results of this study contribute to the long-term assessment and tracking of these dolphin populations.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Tadamichi Morisaka, Tomo Furuichi, Kazunobu Kogi, Motoi Yoshioka
Summary: The definition of animal populations is crucial for understanding social networks among individuals. However, defining groups of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins is challenging due to their fission-fusion dynamics and lack of underwater survey definitions. Through comparing 234 group transitions from simultaneous boat-based and underwater observations, we propose a group definition for underwater surveys of these dolphins. Our definition, which considers all recorded dolphins in one encounter as a group and treats groups with at least one shared individual as the same group, produces highly similar association indices to boat observations. This is valuable for studying highly maneuverable delphinids, particularly in commercial-tour-based studies where researchers have limited decision-making authority for observations.
JOURNAL OF ETHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Diana Rocha, Sarah A. Marley, Benjamin Drakeford, Jonathan Potts, Angie Gullan
Summary: Swim-with-dolphin (SWD) activities can negatively impact dolphin behavior and activity budget, despite current management measures. This study aimed to determine the effects of SWD tourism on the behavior of resident Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in Mozambique. Results showed significant short-term changes in dolphin behavior, with dolphins being more likely to travel and less likely to socialize, rest, or forage after tourist swims.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Wenzhi Lin, Shenglan Chen, Ruiqiang Zheng, Agathe Serres, Binshuai Liu, Mingli Lin, Mingming Liu, Songhai Li
Summary: A variety of anomalous body color patterns were observed on Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins off southern China, including hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation. The prevalence of hypopigmentation was higher in dolphins residing in the mid-Pearl-River-Delta region.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Su-Min Baek, Seoung-Woo Lee, Tae-Un Kim, Ji Hyung Kim, Young-Jin Lee, Jae-Hyuk Yim, Woo Jun Kim, Seong-Kyoon Choi, Jee Eun Han, Kyu-Shik Jeong, Jin-Kyu Park
Summary: This is a case report of a 25-day-old common bottlenose dolphin that died suddenly. Gross examination revealed congestion, hemorrhage, and edema in multiple organs, while histopathological examination showed signs of inflammation and infection. PCR identified several pathogenic bacteria, with Escherichia fergusonii considered the primary etiologic agent.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gertrud E. Morlock, Angela Ziltener, Sascha Schreiner, Jennifer Tersteegen, Annabel Mehl, Tamara Schreiner, Tamer Kamel, Franz Bruemmer
Summary: This study found that Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in the Northern Red Sea of Egypt selectively rub against specific corals and sponges, potentially to come into contact with bioactive metabolites for skin homeostasis and prophylaxis against microbial infections. It highlights the importance of specific invertebrates in coral reefs and calls for further research on vertebrate-invertebrate interactions.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Genfu Yagi, Mai Sakai, Kazunobu Kogi
Summary: Studying the speckle patterns on Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins can help estimate their age. The speckles increase in density and change in shape as the dolphins age. The shape of the speckles may serve as a useful tool for determining the sex of the dolphins.
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Carolyn J. P. Jones, John D. Aplin, Ana C. Salbany, W. R. (Twink) Allen, Sandra Wilsher
Summary: Little is known about the glycosylation of placental villi and areolae of cetaceans. This study compared the trophoblast glycosylation in these two locations and found that areolar cells are functionally distinct from villous trophoblast cells in terms of their size, granule distribution, and staining characteristics.
Article
Zoology
Akiko Enokizu, Tadamichi Morisaka, Kazunobu Kogi, Motoi Yoshioka
Summary: Yawning is defined as an involuntary behavior with breathing, but marine mammals can yawn without breathing. Previous studies on captive marine mammals questioned whether yawning in these mammals is abnormal. This study reports the first observation of yawning in free-ranging Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, suggesting that yawning is an innate behavior in dolphins.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lisa K. Lauderdale, Michael T. Walsh, Jill D. Mellen, Douglas A. Granger, Lance J. Miller
Summary: Animal welfare science has evolved in recent decades to utilize a multidisciplinary approach in assessing the welfare of animals in accredited zoos and aquariums. Science-based welfare assessments have become essential in management programs, where management practices and habitat characteristics play a significant role in impacting animal welfare. The study collected survey data from 86 bottlenose dolphins in 40 habitats at 38 facilities in seven countries, aiming to provide insights into dolphin management practices and habitat characteristics in accredited zoos and aquariums.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lisa K. Lauderdale, Michael T. Walsh, Jill D. Mellen, Douglas A. Granger, Lance J. Miller
Summary: In recent decades, animal welfare science has evolved to utilize a multidisciplinary approach to assess the welfare of animals in accredited zoos and aquariums. Science-based animal welfare assessments have become an essential component of management programs, although habitat characteristics and management practices are not standardized across locations. Knowledge and subsequent application of these practices and habitat characteristics can enhance our understanding of factors associated with positive welfare.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mingming Liu, Mingli Lin, David Lusseau, Songhai Li
Summary: Research in the eastern waters of Zhanjiang, China, shows that group size of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins varies with different seasons and years, but not with tidal phases. The presence of mother-calf pairs significantly increases group size, providing more protection, food, and resources for the dolphins.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Whitney R. R. Friedman, Michael Krutzen, Stephanie L. L. King, Simon J. J. Allen, Livia Gerber, Samuel Wittwer, Richard C. C. Connor
Summary: The social intelligence hypothesis suggests that complex social relationships are the driving force behind the evolution of large brain size and intelligence. A study on male Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Australia, reveals the formation of strategic inter-group alliances, even at the third-order alliance level. The study found strong differentiation in third-order alliance relationships, with key individuals playing a significant role in maintaining alliances.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jiro Miyamae, Masaharu Okano, Kohei Nishiya, Fumihiko Katakura, Jerzy K. Kulski, Tadaaki Moritomo, Takashi Shiina
Summary: By analyzing the DNA sequences of the DLA class I genomic region in dogs, this study discovered that DLA-88L is a hybrid gene formed by interlocus and/or intralocus gene conversion between DLA-88 and DLA-12. It was also found that at least one DLA-12 allele is generated through interlocus gene conversion. These findings suggest that intralocus gene conversion plays an important role in expanding DLA allelic variations.
Article
Hematology
Yoshitaka Adachi, Toshiyasu Sakai, Seitaro Terakura, Takashi Shiina, Shingo Suzuki, Hiroshi Hamana, Hiroyuki Kishi, Takehiko Sasazuki, Hisashi Arase, Ryo Hanajiri, Tatsunori Goto, Tetsuya Nishida, Makoto Murata, Hitoshi Kiyoi
Summary: Genomic deletion of donor-patient-mismatched HLA alleles in leukemic cells is a major cause of relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The downregulation of HLA II may lead to decreased antigen recognition ability of antigen-specific T cells and may be one of the immune evasion mechanisms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Leanne R. Rosser, Tadamichi Morisaka, Yoko Mitani, Takeshi Igarashi
Summary: This study reports the first case of conspecific calf-directed aggression in Pacific white-sided dolphins, suggesting a possible infanticide attempt. The observation reveals a persistent attack on a neonate by 10 attackers, causing visible injuries. After 50 minutes, a change in the attacking group was observed, indicating a distinct group composition change.
Article
Cell Biology
Marie Shimizu, Daisuke Takahashi, Shingo Suzuki, Atsuko Shigenari, Sayaka Ito, Shigeki Miyata, Masahiro Satake, Mika Matsuhashi, Jerzy K. Kulski, Makoto Murata, Fumihiro Azuma, Takashi Shiina
Summary: The study developed a new cost-efficient swab storage gel (SSG) for wet swab collection of buccal cells (BCs), and evaluated its effectiveness by comparing the quality and quantity of DNA extracted from BCs stored in SSG or air-dried, blood, and saliva of 30 subjects using different DNA analytical parameters including LR-NGS-SBT. The results showed that the BC-SSG samples after 5 days of storage had qualitative and quantitative DNA values equivalent to blood and/or saliva, and better than swabs that were air-dried (BC-nSSG), with all DNA samples successfully HLA-typed to a total of 408 alleles. Hence, the use of BC-SSG as collection media for LR-NGS-SBT offers advantages over dried BC samples, such as reducing the need for retesting and untestable samples due to insufficient DNA amplification.
Article
Microbiology
Akihiro Kaidow, Noriko Ishii, Sinngo Suzuki, Takashi Shiina, Hirokazu Kasahara
Summary: When combined with recombinase defects, chromosome breakage and double-strand break repair deficiencies lead to cell death. However, cells are viable when an SOS response occurs in recAts polA cells in Escherichia coli. This study elucidates the role of the HslO gene in this process, which is involved in ROS metabolism and manages oxidative stress to rescue cell growth.
ARCHIVES OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Tomoyoshi Terada, Tadamichi Morisaka, Ikuo Wakabayashi, Motoi Yoshioka
Summary: Toothed whales are an ideal model for studying the relationship between sound communication complexity and sociality. However, there have been limited studies on species with simple social systems. This study discovered two new types of communication sounds in narrow-ridged finless porpoises and confirmed their existence in the species.
JOURNAL OF ETHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Kei Ishizuchi, Tsubasa Takizawa, Yuko Ohnuki, Koji Sekiguchi, Haruhiko Motegi, Munenori Oyama, Jin Nakahara, Takashi Shiina, Shigeaki Suzuki
Summary: Thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis (MG) with immunodeficiency has distinct clinical and immunological features, including severe pneumonia, invasive thymoma, and autoimmune disorders. Compared to patients without immunodeficiency, there were no significant differences in the severity of MG, but lower IgG concentrations and higher mortality rates were observed.
JOURNAL OF NEUROIMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Yu Yoshinaga, Takeshi Soma, Shohei Azuma, Kazuichi Maruyama, Yoshiko Hashikawa, Tomohiko Katayama, Yuzuru Sasamoto, Hiroshi Takayanagi, Naoki Hosen, Takashi Shiina, Kazumasa Ogasawara, Ryuhei Hayashi, Kohji Nishida
Summary: This study investigated the impact of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) on corneal epithelial cell sheet (CEPS) transplantation. The results showed that there was no difference in immune response to CEPS between HLA-matched and -unmatched peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Additionally, programmed death ligand 1 was identified to have an immunosuppressive effect on CEPS under inflammatory conditions.
Article
Immunology
Shingo Suzuki, Satoko Morishima, Makoto Murata, Masafumi Tanaka, Atsuko Shigenari, Sayaka Ito, Uma Kanga, Jerzy K. Kulski, Yasuo Morishima, Takashi Shiina
Summary: Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is an immune response syndrome that occurs early after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This study found that the mismatch between HLA-F-AS1 and HLA-DPB1 is strongly associated with aGVHD, independently of each other. This provides new insights into the molecular mechanism of aGVHD caused by HLA-matched UR-BMT.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Tadamichi Morisaka, Mai Sakai, Hiromitsu Hama, Kazunobu Kogi
Summary: This study used a low-cost 3D underwater camera system to measure the body length of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins around Mikura Island and analyzed their growth pattern using the Richards growth model. The results showed that the body length was similar to or greater than that of other dolphin populations in different areas. The non-invasive technique used in this study provides important information for monitoring dolphin populations and sustainable swim-with-dolphin programs.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Ronald M. Goto, Charles D. Warden, Takashi Shiina, Kazuyoshi Hosomichi, Jibin Zhang, Tae Hyuk Kang, Xiwei Wu, Marla C. Glass, Mary E. Delany, Marcia M. Miller
Summary: MHCY is a significant histocompatibility complex-like gene region in chickens, with a high density of repetitive sequences and multiple gene families. Through sequencing analysis, it was found that MHCY region includes various genes such as class I-like genes, c-type-lectin-like genes, etc., characterized by polymorphism and nested within retroelements.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Yuko Ohnuki, Shigeaki Suzuki, Akinori Uruha, Munenori Oyama, Shingo Suzuki, Jerzy K. Kulski, Ichizo Nishino, Takashi Shiina
Summary: Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) is an autoimmune myositis characterized by muscle weakness, elevated creatine kinase levels, myofiber necrosis, and the presence of certain autoantibodies. This study investigated the association between IMNM and specific HLA alleles, and found that DRB1*08:03 was strongly associated with IMNM in adult patients. Subgroup analysis also identified higher risk alleles for collagen disease in adult patients (C*03:04) and for juvenile patients with anti-HMGCR antibody-positive IMNM (B*13:01 and C*03:04). These findings contribute to a better understanding of the HLA genetic background and features of IMNM.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Tadamichi Morisaka, Tomo Furuichi, Kazunobu Kogi, Motoi Yoshioka
Summary: The definition of animal populations is crucial for understanding social networks among individuals. However, defining groups of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins is challenging due to their fission-fusion dynamics and lack of underwater survey definitions. Through comparing 234 group transitions from simultaneous boat-based and underwater observations, we propose a group definition for underwater surveys of these dolphins. Our definition, which considers all recorded dolphins in one encounter as a group and treats groups with at least one shared individual as the same group, produces highly similar association indices to boat observations. This is valuable for studying highly maneuverable delphinids, particularly in commercial-tour-based studies where researchers have limited decision-making authority for observations.
JOURNAL OF ETHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Akiko Enokizu, Tadamichi Morisaka, Kazunobu Kogi, Motoi Yoshioka
Summary: Yawning is defined as an involuntary behavior with breathing, but marine mammals can yawn without breathing. Previous studies on captive marine mammals questioned whether yawning in these mammals is abnormal. This study reports the first observation of yawning in free-ranging Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, suggesting that yawning is an innate behavior in dolphins.
Article
Cell Biology
Jiro Miyamae, Masaharu Okano, Fumihiko Katakura, Jerzy K. Kulski, Tadaaki Moritomo, Takashi Shiina
Summary: Polymorphisms and genetic diversity of DLA-88, DLA-12/88L, and DLA-DRB1 loci were examined in 829 dogs of 59 breeds in Japan. Multiple alleles and various 88-12/88L-DRB1 haplotypes were detected. The findings suggest that high DLA homozygosity rate and low DLA diversity within a breed are beneficial for transplantation therapy but may affect biological fitness as homozygosity progresses.
