A personal historical perspective of HIV

All animal life on earth is thought to have a common origin and have common genetic mechanisms. Evolution has enabled differentiation of species. Pathogens likewise have evolved within various species and mostly come to a settled dynamic equilibrium such that co-existence results (pathogens ideally should not kill their hosts). Problems arise when pathogens jump species because the new host had not developed any resistance. These infections from related species are known as zoonoses. COVID-19 is the latest example of a virus entering another species but HIV (and various strains of influenza) were previous examples. HIV entered the human population from monkeys in Africa. These two papers outline the underlying principle of HIV and the differing epidemiologies in Africa, the USA and in Edinburgh. The underlying immunosuppression of HIV in Africa was initially hidden behind common infections and HIV first came to world awareness in focal areas of the USA as a disease seemingly limited to gay males. The epidemic of intravenous drug abuse in Edinburgh was associated with overlapping epidemics of bloodborne viruses like hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

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Down syndrome: An overview

African Vision and Eye Health ◽

10.4102/aveh.v75i1.346 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 75 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Samuel Otabor Wajuihian

Keyword(s):

Down Syndrome ◽

Special Needs ◽

Chromosomal Abnormality ◽

Trisomy 21 ◽

Historical Perspective ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Diverse Populations ◽

Care Providers ◽

Eye Care ◽

Genetic Mechanisms

Optometrists as primary eye care providers examine patients from diverse populations, including those with special needs such as Down syndrome. Down syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality associated with several health conditions including vision anomalies such as refractive, accommodative and vergence anomalies, as well as ocular pathology. In this article, a narrative review of Down syndrome including the background, historical perspective, aetiology and genetic mechanisms, types, epidemiology, as well as the physical and medical profile of Down syndrome is presented.Keywords: Down syndrome review; Trisomy 21; historical perspective; etiology; types and epidemiology; features; Optometrist

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Host shifts result in parallel genetic changes when viruses evolve in closely related species

10.1101/226175 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Ben Longdon ◽

Jonathan P Day ◽

Joel M Alves ◽

Sophia CL Smith ◽

Thomas M Houslay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Host Species ◽

Related Species ◽

Rna Virus ◽

Parallel Evolution ◽

Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽

New Host ◽

Closely Related Species ◽

Genetic Changes ◽

Host Shifts ◽

Novel Host

AbstractHost shifts, where a pathogen invades and establishes in a new host species, are a major source of emerging infectious diseases. They frequently occur between related host species and often rely on the pathogen evolving adaptations that increase their fitness in the novel host species. To investigate genetic changes in novel hosts, we experimentally evolved replicate lineages of an RNA virus (Drosophila C Virus) in 19 different species of Drosophilidae and deep sequenced the viral genomes. We found a strong pattern of parallel evolution, where viral lineages from the same host were genetically more similar to each other than to lineages from other host species. When we compared viruses that had evolved in different host species, we found that parallel genetic changes were more likely to occur if the two host species were closely related. This suggests that when a virus adapts to one host it might also become better adapted to closely related host species. This may explain in part why host shifts tend to occur between related species, and may mean that when a new pathogen appears in a given species, closely related species may become vulnerable to the new disease.

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The Evolutionary Significance of Generalist Viruses with Special Emphasis on Plant Viruses and their Hosts

The Open Virology Journal ◽

10.2174/1874357902014010022 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 22-29

Author(s):

Mayank Kumar ◽

Ruchika Bharti ◽

Tushar Ranjan

Keyword(s):

Host Range ◽

Related Species ◽

Host Shift ◽

Plant Viruses ◽

Evolutionary Significance ◽

Viral Diseases ◽

New Host ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

Number Of Species ◽

Emerging Viral Diseases

The host range of a virus is defined as the number of species a virus potentially infects. The specialist virus infects one or few related species while the generalist virus infects several different species, possibly in different families. Origin of generalist viruses from their specialist nature and the expansion of the host range of the generalist virus occur with the host shift event in which the virus encounters and adapts to a new host. Host shift events have resulted in the majority of the newly emerging viral diseases. This review discusses the advantages and disadvantages of generalist over specialist viruses and the unique features of plant viruses and their hosts that result in a higher incidence of generalist viruses in plants.

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A review of the genus Ancylosis Zeller, 1839 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae: Phycitinae) from Ukraine

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4657.3.2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4657 (3) ◽

pp. 437-473

Author(s):

OLEKSIY BIDZILYA ◽

YURIY BUDASHKIN ◽

VIKTOR YEPISHIN

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Related Species ◽

Male Genitalia ◽

Host Plants ◽

New Host ◽

Closely Related Species ◽

The Status ◽

Lepidoptera Pyralidae ◽

New Synonymy ◽

First Time

Nine species of Ancylosis are recorded from Ukraine. Ancylosis larissae sp. nov. related to A. hellenica (Staudinger, 1870) and A. rhodochrella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1852), is described from Crimea. Ancylosis albicosta (Staudinger, 1870) is reported from Ukraine for the first time. Ancylosis albidella Ragonot, 1888, A. syrtella (Ragonot, 1887), A. rhodochrella, A. harmoniella (Ragonot, 1887) and A. monella Roesler, 1973 are removed from the list of Pyralidae of Ukraine due to misidentifications. The host plants for A. sareptalla (Herrich-Schäffer, 1861) and A. substratellum (Christoph, 1877) comb. nov. are recorded for the first time. New host plant is recorded for A. roscidella (Eversmann, 1844). The diagnoses for all species known from Ukraine are provided. The adults and genitalia of both sexes are illustrated for all Ukrainian species and some closely related species from adjacent territories. A key to the species is given based on external characters and the genitalia of both sexes. The female genitalia of A. deserticola (Staudinger, 1870), A. hellenica (Staudinger, 1870), A. sabulosella (Staudinger, 1879) as well as the male genitalia of A. pallida (Staudinger, 1870) are described and illustrated as they have been dealt incorrectly in literature. The status of A. albidella and the records of this species from Europe are discussed. The new synonymy is proposed: Ancylosoma Roesler, 1973 syn. nov. of Ancylosis Zeller, 1839 and A. sareptalla gulbaharensis Roesler, 1973 syn. nov. of A. sareptalla (Herrich-Schäffer, 1861). Ancylosis decolorella (Ragonot & Hampson, 1901) spec. rev., stat. nov. is taken out from synonymy with A. sabulosella. The lectotype of Myelois deserticola Staudinger, 1870 is designated.

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Digenea, Strigeidae, Australapatemon canadensis Dubois and Rausch, 1950: first record in South America and a new host record

Check List ◽

10.15560/6.3.382 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 382 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Fabiana B. Drago ◽

Lía Inés Lunaschi

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Geographical Distribution ◽

Related Species ◽

Buenos Aires ◽

Host Record ◽

First Record ◽

Buenos Aires Province ◽

New Host ◽

New Host Record ◽

Rio Negro

Australapatemon canadensis Dubois and Rausch, 1950 (Digenea, Strigeidae) is reported parasitizing to Cygnus melancoryphus (Molina) (Anatidae) from Lacombe Lagoon, Buenos Aires Province and Pellegrini Lake Río Negro Province, Argentina. This species is described and compared with related species. The finding of A. canadensis in C. melancoryphus in Argentina represents a new host record extending to South America the geographical distribution of this species.

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An Ecological Whodunit: The Story of Colony Collapse Disorder

Society and Animals ◽

10.1163/15685306-bja10026 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

Rosamund Portus

Keyword(s):

Cultural Values ◽

Nonhuman Animal ◽

Colony Collapse Disorder ◽

Animal Life ◽

Nonhuman Animals ◽

Scientific Fact ◽

Colony Collapse ◽

Life On Earth ◽

Widespread Interest

Abstract As life on Earth becomes increasingly precarious, it becomes ever clearer that, while some nonhuman losses are perceived as tragic and controversial, many more are left to slip away, unnoticed and unmourned. The purpose of this study, then, is to determine what renders a nonhuman animal life as significant and why. Specifically, the story of colony collapse disorder is traced, illustrating how the loss of honeybees became framed as an ecological whodunit. This framing incited widespread interest in and anxiety about the disappearance of honeybees. Moreover, the controversy surrounding colony collapse disorder encouraged the preemptive mourning of honeybees’ extinction, a fact which has consequently increased their chances of survival. Therefore, I argue that the stories told about nonhuman animals have influence. This article contributes to literature that recognizes extinction as a distinctly biocultural process, shaped as much by cultural values as it is by scientific fact.

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Could we ever know whether life on Mars represents a second genesis?

Microbiology Australia ◽

10.1071/ma04122 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 22

Author(s):

Jeremy Bailey

Keyword(s):

Common Origin ◽

Bacterial Spores ◽

Martian Meteorite ◽

Life On Mars ◽

Life On Earth ◽

Key Questions ◽

Second Genesis

If we are ever successful in finding life on Mars, one of the key questions we would want to answer is whether life on Mars formed independently or shared a common origin with life on Earth. The issue arises because we know that it is possible for material to be transferred between the two planets. We know of more than 20 meteorites that originated from Mars. Indeed, it was suggested in 1996 that there was evidence for fossil life in the Martian meteorite ALH84001. While the evidence for life in ALH84001 has not been generally accepted, studies of the meteorite have shown that it travelled from Mars to Earth without its interior being heated to more than 40�C. It has also been demonstrated that bacterial spores can survive in space for more than 5 years.

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Primate malarias as a model for cross-species parasite transmission

10.32942/osf.io/zk2dq ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marina Voinson ◽

Charles L. Nunn ◽

Amy Goldberg

Keyword(s):

Human Health ◽

Single Species ◽

Evolutionary Mechanisms ◽

New Host ◽

Effective Interventions ◽

Animal Populations ◽

Wild Host ◽

Genetic Mechanisms ◽

Host Parasite ◽

New Host Species

Parasites regularly switch into new host species, representing a disease burden and conservation risk to the hosts. The distribution of these parasites also gives insight into characteristics of ecological networks and genetic mechanisms of host-parasite interactions. Some parasites are shared across many species, whereas others tend to be restricted to hosts from a single species. Understanding the mechanisms producing this distribution of host specificity can enable more effective interventions and potentially identify genetic targets for vaccines or therapies. With increasing ecological connections to local animal populations, the risk to human health is increasing. Which of these parasites will fizzle out and which have potential to become widespread in humans? We consider the case of primate malarias, caused by Plasmodium parasites, to understand the interacting ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that put humans at risk for disease. Plasmodium host switching from primates to humans led to ancient introductions of the most common malaria-causing agents in humans today, and new parasite switching is a growing threat, especially in Asia and South America. Based on a wild host-Plasmodium occurrence database, we highlight geographic areas of concern and potential areas to target further sampling. Finally, we discuss methodological developments that will facilitate clinical and field-based interventions to improve human health based on this eco-evolutionary perspective.

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Neoglyphe soricis (=Opisthioglyphe soricis Pojmańska, 1956), (Trematoda: Plagiorchiidae) from shrews in Alaska

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182000041159 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 61 (2) ◽

pp. 323-328

Author(s):

Floyd M. Seesee

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Related Species ◽

Sorex Araneus ◽

Locality Record ◽

New Host ◽

Closely Related Species ◽

Generic Rank ◽

Sorex Cinereus

An intestinal trematode of shrews previously identified as Opisthioglyphe locellus Kossack, 1910, by Macy & Moore (1958) in Oregon is identified as Neoglyphe soricis (= Opisthioglyphe soricis) originally described from Sorex araneus L., in Poland by Pojmańska (1956). N. soricis found in Sorex cinereus, near Anchorage, Alaska, is a new host and new locality record. N. soricis, the only species of Neoglyphe known from North America, is compared with its Eurasian counterpart and closely related species. Evidence supporting the retention of the genus Neoglyphe originally proposed as a subgenus by Shaldybin (1953), and raised to generic rank by Yamaguti (1958), and invalidated by Zarnowski (1960), is presented.

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