Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alyssa C. Walker, Rohan Bhargava, Autumn S. Dove, Amanda S. Brust, Ali A. Owji, Daniel M. Czyz
Summary: Neurodegenerative protein conformational diseases are influenced by bacterial products called bacteria-derived protein aggregates (BDPAs) and antibiotics. This study used Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism to investigate the effect of bacteria on host protein folding and found that the presence of BDPAs correlated with proteotoxicity. The abundance and proteotoxicity of BDPAs were also influenced by gentamicin, an antibiotic, and butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Carola Petersen, Inga K. Hamerich, Karen L. Adair, Hanne Griem-Krey, Montserrat Torres Oliva, Marc P. Hoeppner, Brendan J. M. Bohannan, Hinrich Schulenburg
Summary: Most animals and plants have microbiomes that play essential roles in their adaptation to the environment. Microbiomes can change more rapidly than host genomes, making them important for rapid adaptation to novel environments. However, the joint contribution of hosts and microbiomes to adaptation is not well understood.
Article
Ecology
Tara E. Stewart Merrill, Dana M. Calhoun, Pieter T. J. Johnson
Summary: Understanding the capacity of different species to support parasite transmission, known as "competence", is crucial for modeling transmission and testing diversity-disease theory. However, the factors that generate competence and drive its variation are not well understood. This study developed novel approaches to systematically quantify competence for a multi-host, multi-parasite community. The findings suggest that variation in competence is mainly driven by differences in barrier resistance and pre-transmission mortality, highlighting the importance of host resistance and parasite pathogenicity. Host species identity was found to be a strong predictor of competence variation. This study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of infection and epidemiological patterns.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ellen E. Brandell, Andrew P. Dobson, Peter J. Hudson, Paul C. Cross, Douglas W. Smith
Summary: The study investigates the factors influencing the population structure of social species, showing the significant impact of diseases on social structure through dynamic simulation, including group size and number. The introduction of pathogens significantly reduces the host population size, particularly by decreasing the number of social groups, and also affects the size and number of infected and uninfected groups.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qingxiao Song, Xiaoning Wang, Xiwei Wu, Tae Hyuk Kang, Hanjun Qin, Dongchang Zhao, Robert R. Jenq, Marcel R. M. van den Brink, Arthur D. Riggs, Paul J. Martin, Yuan-Zhong Chen, Defu Zeng
Summary: The pathogenesis of SR-Gut-aGVHD involves the expansion of Th/Tc22 cells causing dysbiosis and reduction of Th/Tc1 cells leading to depletion of CX3CR1(hi) mononuclear phagocytes. Potential therapeutic strategies for SR-Gut-aGVHD include IL-22 antagonists and IFN-γ agonists.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Francesco Girolamo, Mariella Errede, Antonella Bizzoca, Daniela Virgintino, Domenico Ribatti
Summary: Understanding pericyte (PC) signaling is crucial for the function and modified cell-cell interactions of the neurovascular unit (NVU). PCs play a crucial role in controlling the functions and blood-brain barrier stability of endothelial, astrocyte, and oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Dysfunctional PC signaling could also serve as a potential biomarker for NVU pathology.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gayle K. McEwen, David E. Alquezar-Planas, Anisha Dayaram, Amber Gillett, Rachael Tarlinton, Nigel Mongan, Keith J. Chappell, Joerg Henning, Milton Tan, Peter Timms, Paul R. Young, Alfred L. Roca, Alex D. Greenwood
Summary: The study reveals that the integration sites of Koala retrovirus cluster near known cancer genes and show a high mutational load associated with the virus's germline invasion.
Koalas are prone to neoplasms when infected, with a high mutational load during virus germline invasion.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Francesco Ricci, Kshitij Tandon, Jay R. Black, Kim-Anh Le Cao, Linda L. Blackall, Heroen Verbruggen
Summary: The success of tropical scleractinian corals depends on their ability to establish symbioses with microbial partners. This study investigated the influence of host phylogeny, skeletal architecture, and reproductive mode on the coral microbiome composition. The results showed that these factors contributed to shaping the presence and relative abundance of bacterial symbionts in the coral holobiont. Additionally, the study revealed differences in the tissue and skeleton bacterial communities, suggesting that the skeleton can act as a microbial reservoir. The findings provide insights into coral-bacterial symbioses and have implications for reef management measures.
Article
Cell Biology
Aminu S. Jahun, Frederic Sorgeloos, Yasmin Chaudhry, Sabastine E. Arthur, Myra Hosmillo, Iliana Georgana, Rhys Izuagbe, Ian G. Goodfellow
Summary: The cGAS-STING pathway plays an important role in the interferon response against DNA viruses, and recent studies have shown its involvement in restriction of RNA viruses as well. This study demonstrates that the cGAS-STING pathway contributes to the interferon response against noroviruses, the common causes of infectious gastroenteritis worldwide. The findings also suggest that host genomic DNA can act as a damage-associated molecular pattern in cells infected with an RNA virus.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
George W. Agak, Alice Mouton, Rosane M. B. Teles, Thomas Weston, Marco Morselli, Priscila R. Andrade, Matteo Pellegrini, Robert L. Modlin
Summary: A specific subset of T(H)17 cells, termed antimicrobial T(H)17 cells, were generated with varying antimicrobial activity and shown to release T cell extracellular traps (TETs) containing histone H2B-decorated DNA to capture and kill bacteria, including Cutibacterium acnes. These cells were found to rely on the secretion of granulysin, granzyme B, perforin, and histone H2B for their antimicrobial activity.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Paulina Zelechowska, Joanna Pastwinska, Ewa Brzezinska-Blaszczyk, Justyna Agier
Summary: The fungal kingdom is widespread in the environment and mast cells play an important role in host defense, though their contribution to defense mechanisms against fungi is not fully understood.
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Leo Girardin, Baptiste Maucourt
Summary: This passage discusses an agro-ecologically motivated coupling model of a prey-predator system and a vector-borne epidemic system. The model consists of one ODE and three reaction-diffusion PDEs, with spatially heterogeneous coefficients and no complete variational or monotonic structure. The long-term behavior of solutions of the Cauchy-Neumann problem is studied, which is largely determined by a linear stability criterion but still involves nonlinear subtleties. An optimal control problem is then considered, and although it remains analytically elusive, numerical simulations show a variety of outcomes and the strong impact of initial conditions.
SIAM JOURNAL ON APPLIED MATHEMATICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ya-jing Liu, Yu Ding, Yan-qing Yin, Hui Xiao, Gang Hu, Jia-wei Zhou
Summary: Cspg4high microglia, characterized by unique transcriptomic signature, are one of the origins of microgliosis during neurodegeneration. They can proliferate in response to pathological alpha-synuclein stimulation, and show higher survival rates in transplantation therapy. Additionally, these cells are detected in the brain of AD patients, suggesting their involvement in AD pathogenesis.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Ecology
David Nguyen, Tanay Wakhare, Jing Jiao, Kellen Myers, Oyita Udiani, Nina H. Fefferman
Summary: This research investigates the synergy between different seasonal demographic processes and epidemic dynamics in a two-host disease system, revealing the driving factors behind differences in disease burden between hosts and the profound impact of disease introduction timing relative to annual birth cycles on disease dynamics in both host species.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bo Tang, Li Tang, Shengpeng Li, Shuang Liu, Jialin He, Pan Li, Sumin Wang, Min Yang, Longhui Zhang, Yuanyuan Lei, Dianji Tu, Xuefeng Tang, Hua Hu, Qin Ouyang, Xia Chen, Shiming Yang
Summary: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a liver disease that sometimes develops during pregnancy and is characterized by increased serum bile acid levels. Here the authors report that the gut microbiome species B. fragilis is enriched in patients with ICP and promotes ICP development in mice via inhibition of signalling though the bile acid receptor FXR.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Marinela Contreras, Joaquin Vicente, Jose Joaquin Ceron, Silvia Martinez Subiela, Jose Miguel Urra, Francisco J. Rodriguez-del-Rio, Elisa Ferreras-Colino, Rita Vaz-Rodrigues, Isabel G. de Fernandez G. de Mera, Sandra Antunes, Ana Domingos, Christian Gortazar, Jose de la Fuente
Summary: This study identified potential diagnostic, prognostic, and protective antibody binding epitopes for SARS-CoV-2. The results provide new tools for COVID-19 surveillance and risk evaluation in hospitalized patients, as well as potential insights for the development of new vaccines.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Antonio J. Carpio, Joao Queiros, Eduardo Laguna, Saul Jimenez-Ruiz, Joaquin Vicente, Paulo C. Alves, Pelayo Acevedo
Summary: European wild rabbit and red-legged partridge are important small game species in Mediterranean ecosystems. The diet of wild boar is influenced by the availability of different food resources, and their consumption of rabbits and partridges varies with seasons and hunting estates.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2023)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Tommaso Illarietti, Pelayo Acevedo, Paulo Alves, Thomas S. Jung, Horst Kierdorf, Gilliard Lach, Jorge Lopez-Olvera, Rory Putman, Massimo Scandura, Marcelo Vallinoto, Christian Gortazar
Summary: Expanding from Zeitschrift fur Jagdwissenschaft in 1955, European Journal of Wildlife Research (EJWR) publishes original research and reviews on wildlife science worldwide. After 18 years, we reflect on the journal and its audience, which includes researchers, wildlife biologists, and practitioners interested in wildlife science. With ecosystems under immense pressure due to global crisis, EJWR plays a vital role in sharing relevant research with the scientific community.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ana Balseiro, Claudia Perez-Martinez, Mark P. Dagleish, Luis J. Royo, Laura Polledo, Juan F. Garcia Marin
Summary: The present study describes the pathology of goats naturally infected with the Spanish goat encephalitis virus (SGEV) and discusses the pathogenesis of the disease in the 2011 outbreak. Neuropathological lesions caused by SGEV were severe and widespread throughout the central nervous system, with more severity in certain areas. Viral antigens were found in the cytoplasm of neurons but not associated with inflammation. SGEV is a significant pathogen of goats causing severe neurological clinical disease and high mortality.
Article
Entomology
Lorena Mazuecos, Marinela Contreras, Paul D. Kasaija, Prajwol Manandhar, Weronika Grazlewska, Eduardo Guisantes-Batan, Sergio Gomez-Alonso, Karelia Deulofeu, Isabel Fernandez-Moratalla, Rajesh Man Rajbhandari, Daniel Sojka, Libor Grubhoffer, Dibesh Karmacharya, Christian Gortazar, Jose de la Fuente
Summary: Ticks attaching to ear canals of humans and animals are the cause of otoacariasis, common in rural areas of Nepal. In indigenous medicine, leaf extracts of Clerodendrum viscosum are used as tick repellent to prevent or remove ticks from the ear canal. Our study provides support for the traditional use of C. viscosum leaf extracts in Nepal.
EXPERIMENTAL AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Ludovica Preite, Patricia Barroso, Beatriz Romero, Ana Balseiro, Christian Gortazar
Summary: Biosafety measures aim to reduce cross-species interactions, but incentives for implementation do not always lead to success.
PREVENTIVE VETERINARY MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Gloria Herrero-Garcia, Pelayo Acevedo, Pablo Quiros, Miguel Prieto, Beatriz Romero, Javier Amado, Manuel Antonio Queipo, Christian Gortazar, Ana Balseiro
Summary: By analyzing the prevalence of tuberculosis in cattle and wild boar as well as their ranging behavior and habitat use in Asturias, northern Spain from 2014 to 2020, this study found that wild boar may contribute to the re-emergence of TB in the region. Infected wild boar shared the same strains of M. bovis with infected cattle, and their spatiotemporal overlap around pastures increased the transmission risk of TB. These findings are important for monitoring and eradication efforts against tuberculosis.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ana Balseiro, Gloria Herrero-Garcia, Luis J. Royo, Jose Angel Armenteros, Jose R. Altonaga, Juana M. Monasterio, Ramon Balsera, Rachel V. Pool, Juan Francisco Garcia Marin, Jose Antonio Pis-Millan
Summary: This article presents a case of a dolphin diagnosed with a skeletal disorder associated with a pulmonary infection caused by a parasite. It is the first reported case of a dolphin suffering from a skeletal disorder associated with a pulmonary disease.
Review
Ecology
Luis M. Rosalino, Goncalo Matias, Joao Carvalho, Francisco Alvares, Alexandre Azevedo, Victor Bandeira, Carlos Fernandes, Pablo Ferreras, Christian Gortazar, Jorge Lozano, Pedro Monterroso, Francisco Palomares, Nuno Santos, Rodrigo Serra, Andre Pinto da Silva, Emilio Virgos, Margarida Santos-Reis
Summary: This study reviews the bio-ecological research on wild Iberian carnivores over the past 30 years, summarizes the current knowledge and knowledge gaps, and suggests future research priorities. The research found significant heterogeneity in the topics and species investigated, with limited information on certain aspects of carnivores and specific regions.
Article
Parasitology
Marinela Contreras, Rita Vaz-Rodrigues, Lorena Mazuecos, Margarita Villar, Sara Artigas-Jeronimo, Almudena Gonzalez-Garcia, Nadezhda V. Shilova, Nicolai V. Bovin, Sandra Diaz-Sanchez, Elisa Ferreras-Colino, Ivan Pacheco, Jindrich Chmelar, Petr Kopacek, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz, Christian Gortazar, Jose de la Fuente
Summary: This study investigates the role of tick salivary components and proteins with and without alpha-Gal modifications in modulating the immune response against the carbohydrate. The results show that exposure to tick saliva leads to allergic reactions, abnormal behavior, and mortality in zebrafish. The antibody titers against alpha-Gal and tick salivary gland proteins are significantly higher in the saliva protein fractions and deglycosylated saliva group.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Cesar Herraiz, Joaquin Vicente, Christian Gortazar, Pelayo Acevedo
Summary: The management of animal tuberculosis in Spain faces challenges, as the role of wildlife has been overlooked. This study used a Bayesian approach to identify risk factors associated with TB rates in cattle and found that cattle movement and wild boar infection rates are significant factors.
PREVENTIVE VETERINARY MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Martijn Bollen, Pablo Palencia, Joaquin Vicente, Pelayo Acevedo, Lucia Del Rio, Thomas Neyens, Natalie Beenaerts, Jim Casaer
Summary: Estimating changes in animal population abundances and densities is crucial for research, management, and conservation purposes. While camera traps and other passive sensors have advanced surveillance capabilities, different estimation methods may yield inconsistent results.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Juan F. Charre-Medellin, David Ferrer-Ferrando, Tiberio C. Monterrubio-Rico, Javier Fernandez-Lopez, Pelayo Acevedo
Summary: This study used species distribution models to predict the population status of six wild felids in inaccessible or politically unstable territories in Mexico and compared it with relative abundance. The results showed variations in the relationship between environmental suitability and relative abundance across species and algorithms. This study provides important insights for predicting and conserving the relative abundance of wild felids, especially in remote or politically unstable areas.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Israel Espinoza, Maria Jose Garcia Iglesias, Alvaro Oleaga, Maria Gracia de Garnica Garcia, Ana Balseiro
Summary: Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the local immune response in the central nervous systems of badgers naturally infected with canine distemper virus. The presence of microglia and astrocytes, but absence of lymphocytes, was observed in the gliosis foci.