scholarly journals Speciation over the edge: gene flow among non-human primate species across a formidable biogeographic barrier

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. 170351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben J. Evans ◽  
Anthony J. Tosi ◽  
Kai Zeng ◽  
Jonathan Dushoff ◽  
André Corvelo ◽  
...  

Many genera of terrestrial vertebrates diversified exclusively on one or the other side of Wallace’s Line, which lies between Borneo and Sulawesi islands in Southeast Asia, and demarcates one of the sharpest biogeographic transition zones in the world. Macaque monkeys are unusual among vertebrate genera in that they are distributed on both sides of Wallace‘s Line, raising the question of whether dispersal across this barrier was an evolutionary one-off or a more protracted exchange—and if the latter, what were the genomic consequences. To explore the nature of speciation over the edge of this biogeographic divide, we used genomic data to test for evidence of gene flow between macaque species across Wallace’s Line after macaques colonized Sulawesi. We recovered evidence of post-colonization gene flow, most prominently on the X chromosome. These results are consistent with the proposal that gene flow is a pervasive component of speciation—even when barriers to gene flow seem almost insurmountable.

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 180736
Author(s):  
Ben J. Evans ◽  
Anthony J. Tosi ◽  
Kai Zeng ◽  
Jonathan Dushoff ◽  
André Corvelo ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 201206
Author(s):  
Margarita Hernandez ◽  
Mary K. Shenk ◽  
George H. Perry

Scholars have noted major disparities in the extent of scientific research conducted among taxonomic groups. Such trends may cascade if future scientists gravitate towards study species with more data and resources already available. As new technologies emerge, do research studies employing these technologies continue these disparities? Here, using non-human primates as a case study, we identified disparities in massively parallel genomic sequencing data and conducted interviews with scientists who produced these data to learn their motivations when selecting study species. We tested whether variables including publication history and conservation status were significantly correlated with publicly available sequence data in the NCBI Sequence Read Archive (SRA). Of the 179.6 terabases (Tb) of sequence data in SRA for 519 non-human primate species, 135 Tb (approx. 75%) were from only five species: rhesus macaques, olive baboons, green monkeys, chimpanzees and crab-eating macaques. The strongest predictors of the amount of genomic data were the total number of non-medical publications (linear regression; r 2 = 0.37; p = 6.15 × 10 −12 ) and number of medical publications ( r 2 = 0.27; p = 9.27 × 10 −9 ). In a generalized linear model, the number of non-medical publications ( p = 0.00064) and closer phylogenetic distance to humans ( p = 0.024) were the most predictive of the amount of genomic sequence data. We interviewed 33 authors of genomic data-producing publications and analysed their responses using grounded theory. Consistent with our quantitative results, authors mentioned their choice of species was motivated by sample accessibility, prior published work and relevance to human medicine. Our mixed-methods approach helped identify and contextualize some of the driving factors behind species-uneven patterns of scientific research, which can now be considered by funding agencies, scientific societies and research teams aiming to align their broader goals with future data generation efforts.


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4967 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-243
Author(s):  
DAVID H. NIELSEN ◽  
RICHARD G. ROBBINS ◽  
LEOPOLDO M. RUEDA

The superfamily Trombiculoidea is a large and diverse group of acarines that comprises six families; of these, the families Trombiculidae and Leeuwenhoekiidae are characterized by larvae commonly known as chiggers that are parasites of terrestrial vertebrates, including humans, and some species are of medical importance as vectors of chigger-borne rickettsiosis (scrub typhus), caused by the rickettsia Orientia tsutsugamushi.  This paper presents an annotated checklist of 3,013 generally accepted chigger species, together with their distribution by zoogeographic region, and a non-comprehensive list of synonyms.  A total of 58 new combinations are proposed by transferring species to different genera, treating some subgenera as genera, or updating current generic names. The checklist updates earlier catalogs of the world chigger fauna, but because the literature on chigger taxonomy is voluminous and scattered, similar, regional monographs were utilized in constructing the classificatory foundation.  This list may not contain every species, synonym or taxonomic rearrangement that has been published, but it reflects the most recent arrangement of chigger taxa.  Distribution records are primarily drawn from collection sites listed in the original species descriptions, together with subsequently published geographical records. 


2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 1444-1459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mari C. Vázquez-Borrego ◽  
Antonio C. Fuentes-Fayos ◽  
Manuel D. Gahete ◽  
Justo P. Castaño ◽  
Rhonda D. Kineman ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Biguanides are anti-hyperglycaemic agents used to treat diabetes by acting primarily on the liver, inhibiting hepatic gluconeogenesis. However, biguanides may target other key metabolic tissues to exert beneficial actions. As the “master endocrine gland”, the pituitary is a true homeostatic sensor that controls whole body homeostasis and metabolism by integrating central and peripheral signals. However, whether the pituitary is a primary site of biguanides action in normal adult humans/primates remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the direct effects of two biguanides (metformin/phenformin) on the expression and secretion of all anterior pituitary hormones in two non-human primate species (Papio anubis and Macaca fascicularis), and the molecular/signalling-mechanisms behind these actions. Methods: Primary pituitary cell cultures from baboons and macaques were used to determine the direct impact of metformin/phenformin (alone and combined with primary regulators) on the functioning of all pituitary cell-types (i.e. expression/secretion/signaling-pathways, etc). Results: Metformin/phenformin inhibited basal, but not GHRH/ghrelin-stimulated GH/ACTH/ FSH-secretion and GH/POMC-expression, without altering secretion or expression of other pituitary hormones (PRL/LH/TSH), FSH-expression or cell viability in both primate models. These biguanide actions are likely mediated through modulation of: 1) common (mTOR/PI3K/intracellular-Ca2+mobilization) and distinct (MAPK) signaling pathways; and 2) gene expression of key receptors regulating somatotrope/corticotrope/gonadotrope function (i.e. upregulation of SSTR2/SSTR5/INSR/IGF1R/LEPR). Conclusion: The pituitary gland is a primary target of biguanide actions wherein they modulate somatotrope/corticotrope/gonadotrope-function through multiple molecular/signaling pathways in non-human primate-models. This suggests that the well-known metabolic effects of biguanides might be, at least in part, influenced by their actions at the pituitary level.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (19) ◽  
pp. 3649-3666
Author(s):  
Lisa Cooper ◽  
Lynsey Bunnefeld ◽  
Jack Hearn ◽  
James M. Cook ◽  
Konrad Lohse ◽  
...  

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise McAloose ◽  
Melissa Laverack ◽  
Leyi Wang ◽  
Mary Lea Killian ◽  
Leonardo C. Caserta ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Despite numerous barriers to transmission, zoonoses are the major cause of emerging infectious diseases in humans. Among these, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and ebolaviruses have killed thousands; the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has killed millions. Zoonoses and human-to-animal cross-species transmission are driven by human actions and have important management, conservation, and public health implications. The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which presumably originated from an animal reservoir, has killed more than half a million people around the world and cases continue to rise. In March 2020, New York City was a global epicenter for SARS-CoV-2 infections. During this time, four tigers and three lions at the Bronx Zoo, NY, developed mild, abnormal respiratory signs. We detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in respiratory secretions and/or feces from all seven animals, live virus in three, and colocalized viral RNA with cellular damage in one. We produced nine whole SARS-CoV-2 genomes from the animals and keepers and identified different SARS-CoV-2 genotypes in the tigers and lions. Epidemiologic and genomic data indicated human-to-tiger transmission. These were the first confirmed cases of natural SARS-CoV-2 animal infections in the United States and the first in nondomestic species in the world. We highlight disease transmission at a nontraditional interface and provide information that contributes to understanding SARS-CoV-2 transmission across species. IMPORTANCE The human-animal-environment interface of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an important aspect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that requires robust One Health-based investigations. Despite this, few reports describe natural infections in animals or directly link them to human infections using genomic data. In the present study, we describe the first cases of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in tigers and lions in the United States and provide epidemiological and genetic evidence for human-to-animal transmission of the virus. Our data show that tigers and lions were infected with different genotypes of SARS-CoV-2, indicating two independent transmission events to the animals. Importantly, infected animals shed infectious virus in respiratory secretions and feces. A better understanding of the susceptibility of animal species to SARS-CoV-2 may help to elucidate transmission mechanisms and identify potential reservoirs and sources of infection that are important in both animal and human health.


2020 ◽  
Vol 222 ◽  
pp. 112938 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Cenni ◽  
Maurizio Casarrubea ◽  
Noëlle Gunst ◽  
Paul L. Vasey ◽  
Sergio M. Pellis ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 162 (4) ◽  
pp. 2301-2318
Author(s):  
Brogan M. Stewart ◽  
Sarah E. Turner ◽  
H. Damon Matthews

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