Article
Biology
Jinggang Zhang, Peter Santema, Zixuan Lin, Lixing Yang, Meijun Liu, Jianqiang Li, Wenhong Deng, Bart Kempenaers
Summary: The arms race between brood parasites and their hosts provides a classic model to study coevolution. Hosts often reject the parasitic egg, and brood parasites should therefore select host nests in which the colour of the eggs best matches that of their own. We reported on a study of Daurian redstarts, which show a distinct egg-colour dimorphism, with females laying either blue or pink eggs. The study demonstrated that cuckoos actively choose redstart nests in which the egg colour matches the colour of their own eggs, providing direct experimental evidence in support of the egg matching hypothesis.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jordan A. Lewis, Prathyusha Kandala, McKenna J. Penley, Levi T. Morran
Summary: Gene flow can increase additive genetic variation and introduce beneficial alleles, facilitating adaptation. However, it can also impede adaptation by disrupting genotypes, introducing harmful alleles, and creating negative interactions. This study found that gene flow increased parasite resistance in nematodes and that gene flow from adapted populations resulted in greater resistance increases, especially from novel genetic backgrounds. These findings demonstrate the importance of gene flow in adaptation and highlight the influence of source population characteristics.
Article
Ecology
Tyler Larsen, Cara Jefferson, Anthony Bartley, Joan E. Strassmann, David C. Queller
Summary: This study describes a method for inferring the existence of symbiotic adaptations by experimentally evolving microbes in isolation and observing changes in their fitness effects on partners. The approach was applied to the symbiosis between the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum and two intracellular bacterial endosymbionts, revealing that one bacterial species tends to attenuate its virulence in nature. The findings suggest that microbes have historically evolved to either help or harm one another in nature, and this method can be a useful tool for studying adaptations in microbes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ryutaro Goto, Tsuyoshi Takano, Douglas J. Eernisse, Makoto Kato, Yasunori Kano
Summary: The study conducted a molecular phylogenetic analysis on parasitic marine snails of the genus Caledoniella living on mantis shrimps, revealing their position in the superfamily Truncatelloidea and a subclade of commensal species. It suggested that Caledoniella achieved their ectoparasitic lifestyle through evolutionary pathways involving invasion into benthic invertebrate burrows, specialization to mantis shrimps, and colonization of host bodies. The molecular phylogeny also hinted at parallel evolution of planispiral shells and the redefinition of several families.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Susan J. Mazer, David J. Hunter, Alisa A. Hove, Leah S. Dudley
Summary: This study investigates the phenotypic divergence and selection on functional traits in closely related taxa, finding that self-pollinating taxa flower earlier and have higher gas exchange rates compared to outcrossing taxa. However, the degree and direction of divergence between sister taxa vary depending on the life stage, highlighting the need for further studies on the direction of selection within and among taxa.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Bri L. Ports, Michael Jensen-Seaman
Summary: This study used a genome-wide approach to investigate protein evolution in 21 primate species and found contrasting patterns between male and female reproductive tissues. In species with high levels of sperm competition, testes-specific proteins showed strong conservation, while female reproductive proteins exhibited accelerated evolution. Additionally, accelerated protein evolution was observed in lymphoid tissue, suggesting a potential influence of sexual selection on adaptive immune functions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hanne De Kort, Sylvain Legrand, Olivier Honnay, James Buckley
Summary: This study explores the effect of transposable elements on genome-wide heterozygosity and selection signatures across an inbreeding gradient in Arabidopsis lyrata. The results show that intense inbreeding is associated with elevated heterozygosity downstream of several transposable element superfamilies, as well as signatures of balancing selection. In addition, stress-responsive genes downstream of transposable elements also exhibit increased heterozygosity. The study also reveals specific selection signatures associated with transposable element superfamilies, which are reproducible in independent evolutionary lineages of A. lyrata. These findings provide an important hypothesis for the success of self-fertilizing species.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Xialian Bu, Weishan Zhao, Ming Li, Wenxiang Li, Shangong Wu, Hong Zou, Guitang Wang
Summary: This study sequenced the transcriptomes of free-living and parasitic Chilodonella uncinata and identified 1040 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Parasitic C. uncinata showed upregulation of parasitism-related genes, ciliary-related dynein heavy chain, and significant differences in amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and TCA cycle. This study contributes to our understanding of the transition from a free-living to a parasitic lifestyle in C. uncinata.
Article
Biology
Irem Sepil, Jennifer C. Perry, Alice Dore, Tracey Chapman, Stuart Wigby
Summary: The interaction between sex ratios and nutrient availability affects male pre-copulatory performance, while sex ratios and nutrition have direct and non-interacting effects on post-copulatory success. Males that evolved under equal sex ratios fathered more offspring and were better at suppressing female remating.
Article
Ecology
Lea Boyrie, Corentin Moreau, Florian Frugier, Christophe Jacquet, Maxime Bonhomme
Summary: Research on identifying signatures of selection using SNP data has proven effective, but there have been few methods designed to identify interacting alleles as targets of selective processes. This study proposes a statistical test aimed at detecting epistatic selection and uncovers evidence of gene coadaptation in both plant and human populations.
Article
Ecology
Hannelore MacDonald, Erol Akcay, Dustin Brisson
Summary: The traditional trade-off between transmission and virulence cannot explain the intermediate levels of parasite virulence observed in nature. Host phenology, the timing of seasonal activity, can act as an alternative driver of virulence evolution, selecting for intermediate parasite virulence strategies.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
M. E. Lopez, M. Cadiz, E. B. Rondeau, B. F. Koop, J. M. Yanez
Summary: This study aims to identify selection signatures involved in adaption to culture conditions and traits of productive interest in coho salmon through genotyping and analysis, detecting several signatures of selection on different chromosomal regions. This can contribute to understanding the genetic mechanisms of phenotypic diversity in coho salmon.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Jonathan M. Parrett, Sebastian Chmielewski, Eylem Aydogdu, Aleksandra Lukasiewicz, Stephane Rombauts, Agnieszka Szubert-Kruszynska, Wieslaw Babik, Mateusz Konczal, Jacek Radwan
Summary: Populations of a bulb mite experimentally selected for a male weapon showed reduced diversity across the genome, indicating increased purifying selection due to strong sexual selection. The populations selected for the weapon exhibited lower genome-wide diversity, particularly in terms of non-synonymous positions, suggesting enhanced purifying selection.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Barbara Feldmeyer, Claudia Gstoettl, Jennifer Wallner, Evelien Jongepier, Alice Seguret, Donato A. Grasso, Erich Bornberg-Bauer, Susanne Foitzik, Jurgen Heinze
Summary: The division of labour between queen and workers is crucial for the ecological success of social Hymenoptera. Insect societies are vulnerable to social parasites, but the gene expression differences between queen and worker are conserved across various lifestyles. Caste has a stronger impact on gene expression than lifestyle, indicating a core set of genes linked to caste in this ant taxon.
Article
Plant Sciences
Zebin Zhang, Dmytro Kryvokhyzha, Marion Orsucci, Sylvain Glemin, Pascal Milesi, Martin Lascoux
Summary: The transition from outcrossing to selfing is a significant evolutionary event in plants, impacting reproductive traits and gene expression. Research in the Capsella genus shows that gene expression tends to converge in flowers in selfing species, while diverging in leaves and roots.
Article
Ecology
A. K. Gibson, K. S. Stoy, I. A. Gelarden, M. J. Penley, C. M. Lively, L. T. Morran
Article
Ecology
Levi T. Morran, Raymond C. Parrish, Ian A. Gelarden, Michael B. Allen, Curtis M. Lively
AMERICAN NATURALIST
(2014)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Levi T. Morran, Olivia G. Schmidt, Ian A. Gelarden, Raymond C. Parrish, Curtis M. Lively
Article
Pathology
Ian Gelarden, Jessica Nguyen, Juehua Gao, Qing Chen, Luisa Morales-Nebreda, Richard Wunderink, Lin Li, Joan S. Chmiel, MaryAnn Hrisinko, Laura Marszalek, Sumaiya Momnani, Pinal Patel, Ricardo Sumugod, Qi Chao, Lawrence J. Jennings, Teresa R. Zembower, Peng Ji, Yi-Hua Chen
Summary: The study found that bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in COVID-19 patients showed significant lymphocytosis and the presence of atypical lymphocytes predominantly composed of T cells. The lymphocytosis in BAL was associated with longer hospital stay and longer requirement for mechanical ventilation, while the median atypical lymphocyte count was associated with shorter hospital stay, shorter time on mechanical ventilation, and improved survival. These findings suggest that BAL cellular analysis and morphologic findings can provide important diagnostic and prognostic information for severe COVID-19 patients and potential new therapeutic strategies.
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Ian A. Gelarden, Lucy Fu, Kai Lee Yap, Aida Richardson, Pauline M. Chou
Summary: Myoepithelial tumors are a group of neoplasms with diverse features, including EWSR1-POU5F1 fusions and aggressive behavior. The cytomorphologic features of these tumors have not been well characterized.
DIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Ellen Wu, Joo-Young Lee, Ian Gelarden, Rachel M. Engen
Summary: This study investigates the characteristics, presentation, and management of nondestructive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. The majority of nondestructive PTLD cases presented with tonsillar hypertrophy and snoring, and conservative management resulted in excellent clinical outcomes. Further research is needed to guide the care of this understudied population.
PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANTATION
(2022)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Luise Hassler, Jan Wysocki, Ian Gelarden, Isha Sharma, Anastasia Tomatsidou, Minghao Ye, Haley Gula, Vlad Nicoleascu, Glenn Randall, Sergii Pshenychnyi, Nigar Khurram, Yashpal Kanwar, Dominique Missiakas, Jack Henkin, Anjana Yeldandi, Daniel Batlle
Summary: This study demonstrates the preclinical efficacy of a novel soluble ACE2 protein in a lethal mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, reducing lung and kidney injury.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michelle H. Teplensky, Max E. Distler, Caroline D. Kusmierz, Michael Evangelopoulos, Haley Gula, Derek Elli, Anastasia Tomatsidou, Vlad Nicolaescu, Ian Gelarden, Anjana Yeldandi, Daniel Batlle, Dominique Missiakas, Chad A. Mirkin
Summary: This study explores how the presentation of vaccine components in spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) can induce and maximize antiviral response. The SNA vaccine, encapsulating the receptor-binding domain (RBD) subunit and decorated with Toll-like receptor 9 agonist oligonucleotides, shows promising results in inducing immune responses in human cells and mice, outperforming traditional vaccines.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Pediatrics
Ellen Wu, Joo-Young Lee, Ian Gelarden, Rachel M. Engen
PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANTATION
(2022)