Postnatal development in a marsupial model, the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata; Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae)

AbstractMarsupials exhibit unique biological features that provide fascinating insights into many aspects of mammalian development. These include their distinctive mode of reproduction, altricial stage at birth, and the associated heterochrony that is required for their crawl to the pouch and teat attachment. Marsupials are also an invaluable resource for mammalian comparative biology, forming a distinct lineage from the extant placental and egg-laying monotreme mammals. Despite their unique biology, marsupial resources are lagging behind those available for placentals. The fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata) is a laboratory based marsupial model, with simple and robust husbandry requirements and a short reproductive cycle making it amenable to experimental manipulations. Here we present a detailed staging series for the fat-tailed dunnart, focusing on their accelerated development of the forelimbs and jaws. This study provides the first skeletal developmental series on S. crassicaudata and provides a fundamental resource for future studies exploring mammalian diversification, development and evolution.

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Transcriptome of the parasitic flatworm Schistosoma mansoni during intra-mammalian development

10.1101/757633 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Arporn Wangwiwatsin ◽

Anna V. Protasio ◽

Shona Wilson ◽

Christian Owusu ◽

Nancy E. Holroyd ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Schistosoma Mansoni ◽

Chronic Infection ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Mammalian Host ◽

Expression Data ◽

Mammalian Development ◽

Host Parasite Interactions ◽

Parasitic Flatworm ◽

Host Parasite

AbstractSchistosomes are parasitic blood flukes that survive for many years within the mammalian host vasculature. How the parasites establish a chronic infection in the hostile bloodstream environment, whilst evading the host immune response is poorly understood. The parasite develops morphologically and grows as it migrates to its preferred vascular niche, avoiding or repairing damage from the host immune system. In this study, we investigated temporal changes in gene expression during the intra-mammalian development of Schistosoma mansoni. RNA-seq data were analysed from parasites developing in the lung through to egg-laying mature adult worms, providing a comprehensive picture of in vivo intra-mammalian development. Remarkably, genes involved in signalling pathways, developmental control, and adaptation to oxidative stress were up-regulated in the lung stage. The data also suggested a potential role in immune evasion for a previously uncharacterised gene. This study not only provides a large and comprehensive data resource for the research community, but also reveals new directions for further characterising host–parasite interactions that could ultimately lead to new control strategies for this neglected tropical disease pathogen.Author SummaryThe life cycle of the parasitic flatworm Schistosoma mansoni is split between snail and mammalian (often human) hosts. An infection can last for more than 10 years, during which time the parasite physically interacts with its mammalian host as it moves through the bloodstream, travelling through the lungs and liver, to eventually establish a chronic infection in the blood vessels around the host gut. Throughout this complex journey, the parasite develops from a relatively simple larval form into a more complex, sexually reproducing adult. To understand the molecular basis of parasite interactions with the host during this complex journey we have produced genome-wide expression data from developing parasites. The parasites were collected from experimentally-infected mice over its developmental time-course from the poorly studied lung stage, to the fully mature egg-laying adult worm. The data highlight many genes involved in processes known to be associated with key stages of the infection. In addition, the gene expression data provide a unique view of interactions between the parasite and the immune system in the lung, including novel players in host-parasite interactions. A detailed understanding of these processes may provide new opportunities to design intervention strategies, particularly those focussed on the early stages of the infection that are not targeted by current chemotherapy.

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Male-Female Interactions and the Evolution of Postmating Prezygotic Reproductive Isolation among Species of the Virilis Subgroup

International Journal of Evolutionary Biology ◽

10.4061/2011/485460 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Nada Sagga ◽

Alberto Civetta

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Isolation ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Sperm Transfer ◽

Geographic Locations ◽

Future Studies ◽

Egg Hatchability ◽

Fertilization Rates ◽

Postzygotic Barriers ◽

Storage Organs

Reproductive isolation reduces breeding between species. Traditionally, prezygotic and postzygotic barriers to reproduction have been broadly studied, but in recent years, attention has been brought to the existence of barriers that act after copulation but before fertilization. Here, we show that when D. virilis females from different geographic locations mate with D. novamexicana males, egg laying is normal, but fertilization rates are severely reduced, despite normal rates of sperm transfer. This reduction in fertilization is probably due to lower retention of heterospecific sperm in female storage organs one-to-two days after copulation. An inspection of egg hatchability in crosses between females and males from other virilis subgroup species reveals that isolation due to poor egg hatchability likely evolved during the diversification of D. virilis/D. lummei from species of the novamexicana-americana clade. Interestingly, the number of eggs laid by D. virilis females in heterospecific crosses was not different from the numbers of eggs laid in conspecific crosses, suggesting that females exert some form of cryptic control over the heterospecific ejaculate and that future studies should focus on how female and female-sperm interactions contribute to the loss or active exclusion of heterospecific sperm from storage.

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The Parental Non-Equivalence of Imprinting Control Regions during Mammalian Development and Evolution

PLoS Genetics ◽

10.1371/journal.pgen.1001214 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 6 (11) ◽

pp. e1001214 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Reiner Schulz ◽

Charlotte Proudhon ◽

Timothy H. Bestor ◽

Kathryn Woodfine ◽

Chyuan-Sheng Lin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mammalian Development ◽

Development And Evolution ◽

Control Regions

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Comparative Biology of Coconut Leaf Beetle (Clb) Brontispa longissimi (Gestro) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Selected Coconut Varieties

CLSU International Journal of Science and Technology ◽

10.22137/ijst.2021.v5n2.02 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 8-21

Author(s):

Gladys Cabelin ◽

◽

Maria Juliet Ceniza ◽

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Leaf Beetle ◽

Developmental Period ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Yellow Dwarf ◽

Comparative Biology ◽

Development Study ◽

Time Period ◽

Dwarf Variety

Comparative biology and development study of B. longissima Gestro was conducted using different coconut varieties namely: Baybay tall (BAYT) green, Baybay tall (BAYT) brown, Malayan Red dwarf (MRD), Malayan Yellow dwarf (MYD), Albuera dwarf (ALD), and Tacunan dwarf (TACD) varieties was investigated in the laboratory. The duration of the developmental period of B. longissimi was influenced by the different coconut varieties used as host plant. Duration from egg laying to hatching of eggs of B. longissima on tall varieties ranged from 3 to 5 days, while on dwarf varieties it took 4 to 5 days. In all varieties, Brontispa beetles underwent 5–6 instars. In addition, it was observed that the fifth and sixth instars took a longer time period compared to other instars. The total mean developmental period of Brontispa on BAYT (green and brown) was shorter in days compared to all dwarf varieties except to ALD. The results generally showed that BAYT (green and brown) seemed to be a preferred variety. There was considerably higher larvae mortality in dwarf variety like MRD (40%) than those reared in the BAYT green and brown (22.21%, 19.12%), respectively. Beetles reared on BAYT (brown) also had the highest fecundity which was statistically different from the rest of the varieties. In addition, results showed that adults reared in both BAYT (green and brown) had the highest longevity observed compared to other varieties

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Comparative Biology of γδ T Cells

Science Progress ◽

10.3184/003685002783238762 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 85 (4) ◽

pp. 347-358 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Zheng W. Chen

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Γδ T Cells ◽

Tissue Homeostasis ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Comparative Biology ◽

Adaptive Immune Responses ◽

Adaptive Immune ◽

Biological Features ◽

Αβ T Cells

Accumulative evidence suggests that resident γδ T cells in epithelia are biologically distinct from systemic γδ T cells in the circulation. Murine resident γδ T cells have innate immune characteristics and play an important role in tissue homeostasis after damages. In contrast, a unique subset of circulating γδ T cells in primates, like αβ T cells, can mount adaptive immune responses in infections. This article compares biological features between resident and circulating γδ T cells.

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Testing different forms of regulation of yolk thyroid hormone transfer in pied flycatchers

Journal of Experimental Biology ◽

10.1242/jeb.226688 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 223 (21) ◽

pp. jeb226688

Author(s):

Tom Sarraude ◽

Bin-Yan Hsu ◽

Ton G. G. Groothuis ◽

Suvi Ruuskanen

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Hormone ◽

Wild Population ◽

Ficedula Hypoleuca ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Biologically Active ◽

Hormonal Status ◽

Future Studies ◽

Embryonic Tissues ◽

Offspring Fitness ◽

Elevated Exposure

ABSTRACTHormones transferred from mothers to their offspring are considered a maternal tool to prepare progeny for expected environmental conditions, increasing maternal and offspring fitness. To flexibly influence offspring, mothers should be able to transmit the hormonal signals independent of their own hormonal status. However, the ability to regulate hormone transfer to the next generation is under debate. We studied the transfer of thyroid hormones (THs) to eggs in a bird model. We elevated thyroxine (T4, the prohormone for the biologically active triiodothyronine, T3) during egg laying using T4 implants in females of a wild population of pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca), and measured the resulting plasma and yolk T4 and T3 levels. We found an increase in plasma and yolk T4 and no change in plasma or yolk T3 concentration, leading to a decrease in yolk T3/T4 ratio in response to the T4 treatment. The yolk T3/T4 ratio was similar to the plasma ratio in females during the yolking phase. This suggests that mothers are not able to regulate TH transfer to yolk but may regulate the T4 to T3 conversion to avoid potential costs of elevated exposure to the active hormone to herself and to her progeny. The absence of regulation in hormone transfer to eggs is in contrast to our predictions. Future studies on deiodinase activity that converts T4 to T3 in maternal and embryonic tissues may help our understanding of how mothers regulate circulating THs during breeding, as well as the embryos’ role in converting maternal T4 to its biologically active T3 form during development.

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Observations on the biology of some tropical rain forest Scolytidae (Coleo-ptera) from Fiji: I. Subfamilies—Hylesininae, Ipinae (excluding xyleborini)

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485300006775 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 66 (3) ◽

pp. 373-388 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Hywel Roberts

Keyword(s):

Bark Beetle ◽

Rain Forest ◽

Tropical Rain Forest ◽

Bark Beetles ◽

Host Plants ◽

Common Species ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Host Preferences ◽

Biological Features ◽

First Time

AbstractThe biology of seventeen common species of rain forest bark beetles was studied during a six month visit to Fiji in 1973. Geographical and altitude ranges, and host plants are given; breeding galleries and brood composition are described in detail, and the significance of competitors, associates, and parasites is noted. The biology of an Ozodendron sp. is described for the first time, and of Cryphalomorphus sp. for the first time outside Africa. Most Fijian bark beetles show strong host preferences, and some of the most common endemics, such as Cryphalomorphus grosse-punctatus Browne, Hypocryphalus laticollis Browne and Ozodendron fijianus (Schedl) are apparently host specific. Among dominant trees of the rain forest only Myrtaceae and conifers (Dacrydium, Podocarpus), which are thin barked, are apparently free of bark beetles. Of note among biological features is the habit, not previously recorded for tropical bark beetles, of packing the egg galleries with frass after egg-laying has finished. Five species are potential pests of pines—Cryphalus variolosus Schedl, Cyrtogenius granulifer (Beeson), Ozodendron fijianus (Schedl), Poecilips cyperi (Beeson), P. fijianus Schedl. All were taken in endemic Pinaceae, and some in Pinus plantations as well. Lying within the tropical hurricane belt, living coniferous exotics in Fiji are potentially vulnerable to bark beetle attack when trees are under stress, as often occurs in the dry season.

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Green Interactive Installations as Conceptual Experiments towards a New Meaning of Smart Design

Buildings ◽

10.3390/buildings12010062 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 62

Author(s):

Anamaria Andreea Anghel ◽

Diana Giurea ◽

Irina Mohora ◽

Alma-Dia Hapenciuc ◽

Octavian Camil Milincu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Design Process ◽

Role Models ◽

Experimental Testing ◽

Interactive Installation ◽

Future Studies ◽

Use Of Technology ◽

Main Challenge ◽

Intensive Use ◽

Interactive Installations ◽

Development And Evolution

Nature-based design process with its embedded concept of form that follows function can be materialized as products capable of incorporating aesthetics and functionality similar to the characteristics of its natural role models. The paper addresses the topic of green installations created through a design process that simulates nature’s smart developmental mechanisms. The aim is to create an interactive installation capable of receiving and interpreting external factors that would determine the ensemble’s behavior and influence its future development and evolution. The main challenge lies in the fact that the smart feature is often achieved by intensive use of technology, which often overshadows inventive ways in which the behavioral and aesthetic properties of the material can be reinterpreted. The interactive green installation “Modgrew” investigates the possibilities of obtaining smart features through the experimental testing of two main types of configurations. The results underline the fact that, by applying the principles of biomimetic design, technologies from different fields can be combined towards obtaining a smart product. The conclusions highlight the need for future studies cover subjects such as the efficiency of automation, the possible reconfiguration of modules, behavioral optimization over time, the identification of minimal tech alternatives and the reduction of maintenance necessities.

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The spermatozoa of the dasyurid marsupial, Sminthopsis crassicaudata, are highly susceptible to cold shock

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rd09119 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 580 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

N. A. Czarny ◽

J. C. Rodger

Keyword(s):

Experimental Study ◽

Cold Shock ◽

Egg Yolk ◽

Significant Decline ◽

Sperm Cryopreservation ◽

Future Studies ◽

Sminthopsis Crassicaudata ◽

Iced Water ◽

Epididymal Spermatozoa ◽

The Impact

Since the late 1970s research has suggested that marsupial spermatozoa did not suffer cold shock. We have re-examined cold shock to investigate problems with freezing of spermatozoa from a dasyurid marsupial, the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata). Epididymal spermatozoa were rapidly cooled to 0.5°C in a pre-cooled tube held in an iced-water slurry. Upon re-warming all spermatozoa were immotile and the addition of 10% or 20% egg yolk to the sperm medium had no beneficial effect. Spermatozoa that were rapidly cooled to 4°C maintained only 2% motility when re-warmed but the addition of at least 10% egg yolk was beneficial and upon re-warming greater than 65% of the initial motility was maintained. In order to achieve motile spermatozoa at 0°C, controlled-rate cooling at 0.5°C min–1 was examined. In the absence of egg yolk there was a significant decline in the percentage of motile spermatozoa below 4°C. However, the inclusion of at least 10% egg yolk resulted in no loss of motility in spermatozoa cooled to 0°C. This is the first experimental study indicating that spermatozoa from a marsupial are highly susceptible to cold shock and that the impact of rapid chilling can be mitigated by the addition of 10% egg yolk. The ability to successfully cool the spermatozoa of S. crassicaudata to 0°C may have an important role in future studies examining dasyurid sperm cryopreservation.

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Current knowledge about behaviors of honey bee queens with highlighting of the importance future studies

The Journal of Basic and Applied Zoology ◽

10.1186/s41936-021-00234-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 82 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hossam F. Abou-Shaara ◽

Nuru Adgaba ◽

Ahmad A. Al-Ghamdi

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Sperm Storage ◽

Review Article ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Main Body ◽

Genetic Characteristics ◽

Future Studies ◽

Honey Bee Queens

Abstract Background There is one queen in each honey bee, Apis mellifera L., colony under normal conditions. This queen performs egg laying and pheromonal control in the colony. All genetic characteristics of bee workers and drones depend on the queen. This reflects the importance of bee queen in the colony. In this review, behaviors of honey bee queens are presented and further studies are suggested to fill in gaps in knowledge. Main body The major studies about behaviors of honey bee queens either inside or outside the colony were reviewed. Some behavioral aspects especially egg laying pattern, sperm storage and utilization, conflict between queens, and the role of the queens in swarming and absconding have gained relatively few attention. Also, some other points such as the ability of a queen to transmit parasites after mating to her offspring and effects of pesticides on queen rearing and characteristics of emerged queens were highlighted. Conclusion This study highlighted the points that require further detailed studies. This review article may stimulate others toward performing specific future studies on bee queens.

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