scholarly journals Bridging the Gap Between Mammal and Insect Ears – A Comparative and Evolutionary View of Sound-Reception

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Warren ◽  
Manuela Nowotny
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Molecular Processes ◽  
Research Fields ◽  
Evolutionary Context ◽  
Animal Phyla ◽  
Sound Reception ◽  
Evolutionary View ◽  
Common Principle ◽  
Insight Into

Insects must wonder why mammals have ears only in their head and why they evolved only one common principle of ear design—the cochlea. Ears independently evolved at least 19 times in different insect groups and therefore can be found in completely different body parts. The morphologies and functional characteristics of insect ears are as wildly diverse as the ecological niches they exploit. In both, insects and mammals, hearing organs are constrained by the same biophysical principles and their respective molecular processes for mechanotransduction are thought to share a common evolutionary origin. Due to this, comparative knowledge of hearing across animal phyla provides crucial insight into fundamental processes of auditory transduction, especially at the biomechanical and molecular level. This review will start by comparing hearing between insects and mammals in an evolutionary context. It will then discuss current findings about sound reception will help to bridge the gap between both research fields.

scholarly journals Microbiomes attached to fresh perennial ryegrass are temporally resilient and adapt to changing ecological niches

Microbiome ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon A. Huws ◽  
Joan E. Edwards ◽  
Wanchang Lin ◽  
Francesco Rubino ◽  
Mark Alston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Ecological Interactions ◽  
Carbohydrate Degradation ◽  
Host Nutrition ◽  
Role Based ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract Background Gut microbiomes, such as the rumen, greatly influence host nutrition due to their feed energy-harvesting capacity. We investigated temporal ecological interactions facilitating energy harvesting at the fresh perennial ryegrass (PRG)-biofilm interface in the rumen using an in sacco approach and prokaryotic metatranscriptomic profiling. Results Network analysis identified two distinct sub-microbiomes primarily representing primary (≤ 4 h) and secondary (≥ 4 h) colonisation phases and the most transcriptionally active bacterial families (i.e Fibrobacteriaceae, Selemondaceae and Methanobacteriaceae) did not interact with either sub-microbiome, indicating non-cooperative behaviour. Conversely, Prevotellaceae had most transcriptional activity within the primary sub-microbiome (focussed on protein metabolism) and Lachnospiraceae within the secondary sub-microbiome (focussed on carbohydrate degradation). Putative keystone taxa, with low transcriptional activity, were identified within both sub-microbiomes, highlighting the important synergistic role of minor bacterial families; however, we hypothesise that they may be ‘cheating’ in order to capitalise on the energy-harvesting capacity of other microbes. In terms of chemical cues underlying transition from primary to secondary colonisation phases, we suggest that AI-2-based quorum sensing plays a role, based on LuxS gene expression data, coupled with changes in PRG chemistry. Conclusions In summary, we show that fresh PRG-attached prokaryotes are resilient and adapt quickly to changing niches. This study provides the first major insight into the complex temporal ecological interactions occurring at the plant-biofilm interface within the rumen. The study also provides valuable insights into potential plant breeding strategies for development of the utopian plant, allowing optimal sustainable production of ruminants.

scholarly journals Using protein turnover to expand the applications of transcriptomics

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marissa A. Smail ◽  
James K. Reigle ◽  
Robert E. McCullumsmith
Keyword(s):  
Protein Turnover ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Rna Expression ◽  
Protein Abundance ◽  
Life Data ◽  
Research Fields ◽  
Extended Application ◽  
Functional Implications ◽  
Transcriptomics Data ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractRNA expression and protein abundance are often at odds when measured in parallel, raising questions about the functional implications of transcriptomics data. Here, we present the concept of persistence, which attempts to address this challenge by combining protein half-life data with RNA expression into a single metric that approximates protein abundance. The longer a protein’s half-life, the more influence it can have on its surroundings. This data offers a valuable opportunity to gain deeper insight into the functional meaning of transcriptome changes. We demonstrate the application of persistence using schizophrenia (SCZ) datasets, where it greatly improved our ability to predict protein abundance from RNA expression. Furthermore, this approach successfully identified persistent genes and pathways known to have impactful changes in SCZ. These results suggest that persistence is a valuable metric for improving the functional insight offered by transcriptomics data, and extended application of this concept could advance numerous research fields.

scholarly journals Unearthing the Boreal Soil Resistome Associated with Permafrost Thaw

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracie J. Haan ◽  
Devin M. Drown
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Soil Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Community Composition ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Permafrost Thaw ◽  
Insight Into

ABSTRACTUnderstanding the distribution and mobility of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in soil bacteria from diverse ecological niches is critical in assessing their impacts on the global spread of antibiotic resistance. In permafrost associated soils, climate and human driven forces augment near-surface thaw altering the overlying active layer. Physiochemical changes shift bacterial community composition and metabolic functioning, however, it is unknown if permafrost thaw will affect ARGs comprising the boreal soil resistome. To assess how thaw shifts the resistome, we performed susceptibility testing and whole genome sequencing on soil isolates from a disturbance-induced thaw gradient in Interior Alaska. We found resistance was widespread in the Alaskan isolates, with 87% of the 90 isolates resistant to at least one of the five antibiotics. We also observed positive trends in both the proportion of resistant isolates and the abundance of ARGs with permafrost thaw. However, the number of ARGs per genome and types of genes present were shown to cluster more strongly by bacterial taxa rather than thaw emphasizing the evolutionary origins of resistance and the role vertical gene transfer has in shaping the predominantly chromosomally encoded ARGs. The observed higher proportion of plasmid-borne and distinct ARGs in our isolates compared to RefSoil+ suggests local conditions affect the composition of the resistome along with selection for ARG mobility. Overall taxonomy and geography shape the resistome, suggesting that as microbial communities shift in response to permafrost thaw so will the ARGs in the boreal active layer.IMPORTANCEAs antibiotic resistance continues to emerge and rapidly spread in clinical settings, it is imperative to generate studies that build insight into the ecology of environmental resistance genes that pose a threat to human health. This study provides insight into the occurrence of diverse ARGs found in Alaskan soil bacteria which is suggestive of the potential to compromise health. The observed differences in ARG abundance with increasing permafrost thaw suggest the role of soil disturbance in driving the distribution of resistant determinants and the predominant taxa that shape the resistome. Moreover, the high-quality whole genome assemblies generated in this study are an extensive resource for microbial researchers interested in permafrost thaw and will provide a steppingstone for future research into ARG mobility and transmission risks.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. Wainger
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Molecular Processes ◽  
Cellular Models ◽  
Subtype Specificity ◽  
Sporadic Disease ◽  
Neuronal Subtype ◽  
Human Ipsc ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

Mouse and cellular models of ALS including stem cells have revealed tremendous insight into the molecular processes that lead to ALS. Models of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases have led to emergent molecular themes that span several diseases. Future models must account for neuronal subtype specificity of different neurodegenerative diseases, particularly between tightly related diseases such as FTD and ALS. Human iPSC-derived motor neurons offer promise both with regard to the use of human cells and in particular the ability to model sporadic disease, which is critically important given the overwhelming abundance of sporadic disease in ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Recent advances in understanding RAG deficiencies

F1000Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Gennery
Keyword(s):  
Protein Function ◽  
B Lymphocyte ◽  
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency ◽  
Molecular Processes ◽  
Nonsense Mutations ◽  
Vdj Recombination ◽  
Recombination Activating Genes ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Immunodeficiency Syndrome ◽  
Insight Into

Recombination-activating genes (RAG)1 and RAG2 initiate the molecular processes that lead to lymphocyte receptor formation through VDJ recombination. Nonsense mutations in RAG1/RAG2 cause the most profound immunodeficiency syndrome, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Other severe and less-severe clinical phenotypes due to mutations in RAG genes are now recognized. The degree of residual protein function may permit some lymphocyte receptor formation, which confers a less-severe clinical phenotype. Many of the non-SCID phenotypes are associated with autoimmunity. New findings into the effect of mutations in RAG1/2 on the developing T- and B-lymphocyte receptor give insight into the development of autoimmunity. This article summarizes recent findings and places the genetic and molecular findings in a clinical context.

HEAVY AND LIGHT BODY PARTS: THE WEIGHING METAPHOR IN EARLY CHINESE DIALOGUES

Early China ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 55-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carine Defoort
Keyword(s):  
Body Parts ◽  
The Core ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractThe article analyses the metaphorical use of weighing body parts such as fingers, arms, or a head. Our understanding of the weighing metaphor has been much influenced by A. C. Graham's characterization of its rhetorical mechanism, followed by Griet Vankeerberghen in her description of one type of weighing (quan B). The basis of this understanding are two corrupt textual fragments in the dialectical chapters of the Mozi. Several Lü shi chunqiu chapters, however, contain a set of argumentative stories in which body parts are weighed in terms of light and heavy. These stories always argue in favor of life and health, they have a relatively consistent structure, and they may have constituted the core of a larger set of related arguments. Insight into their working can therefore enlighten our reading of other texts.

scholarly journals A new fossil dolphin Dilophodelphis fordycei provides insight into the evolution of supraorbital crests in Platanistoidea (Mammalia, Cetacea)

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 170022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra T. Boersma ◽  
Matthew R. McCurry ◽  
Nicholas D. Pyenson
Keyword(s):  
South Asian ◽  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Sound Propagation ◽  
Early Miocene ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Internal Morphology ◽  
Computed Tomography Scans ◽  
Evolutionary Context ◽  
And Function ◽  
Insight Into

Many odontocete groups have developed enlarged facial crests, although these crests differ in topography, composition and function. The most elaborate crests occur in the South Asian river dolphin ( Platanista gangetica ), in which they rise dorsally as delicate, pneumatized wings anterior of the facial bones. Their position wrapping around the melon suggests their involvement in sound propagation for echolocation. To better understand the origin of crests in this lineage, we examined facial crests among fossil and living Platanistoidea, including a new taxon, Dilophodelphis fordycei , nov. gen. and sp., described herein, from the Early Miocene Astoria Formation of Oregon, USA. We measured the physical extent and thickness of platanistoid crests, categorized their relative position and used computed tomography scans to examine their internal morphology and relative bone density. Integrating these traits in a phylogenetic context, we determined that the onset of crest elaboration or enlargement and the evolution of crest pneumatization among the platanistoids were separate events, with crest enlargement beginning in the Oligocene. However, we find no evidence for pneumatization until possibly the Early Miocene, although certainly by the Middle Miocene. Such an evolutionary context, including data from the fossil record, should inform modelling efforts that seek to understand the diversity of sound generation morphology in Odontoceti.

scholarly journals Microbiomes attached to fresh perennial ryegrass- are temporally resilient and adapt to changing ecological niches

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Huws ◽  
Joan. E. Edwards ◽  
Wanchang Lin ◽  
Francesco Rubino ◽  
Mark Alston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Ecological Interactions ◽  
Carbohydrate Degradation ◽  
Host Nutrition ◽  
Role Based ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract BackgroundGut microbiomes, such as the rumen, greatly influence host nutrition due to their feed energy-harvesting capacity. We investigated temporal ecological interactions facilitating energy-harvesting at the fresh perennial ryegrass (PRG)-biofilm interface in the rumen using an in sacco approach and prokaryotic metatranscriptomic profiling. ResultsNetwork analysis identified two distinct sub-microbiomes primarily representing primary (<4h) and secondary (>4h) colonisation phases and the most transcriptionally active bacterial families (i.e Fibrobacteriaceae, Selemondaceae and Methanobacteriaceae) did not interact with either sub-microbiome, indicating non-cooperative behaviour. Conversely, Prevotellaceae had most transcriptional activity within the primary sub-microbiome (focussed on protein metabolism) and Lachnospiraceae within the secondary sub-microbiome (focussed on carbohydrate degradation). Putative keystone taxa, with low transcriptional activity, were identified within both sub-microbiomes, highlighting the important synergistic role of minor bacterial families, however, we hypothesise that they may be ‘cheating’ in order to capitalise on the energy-harvesting capacity of other microbes. In terms of chemical cues underlying transition from primary to secondary colonisation phases, we suggest that AI-2 based quorum sensing plays a role, based on LuxS gene expression data, coupled with changes in PRG chemistry. ConclusionsIn summary, we show that fresh PRG-attached prokaryotes are resilient and adapt quickly to changing niches. This study provides the first major insight into the complex temporal ecological interactions occurring at the plant-biofilm interface within the rumen. The study also provides valuable insights into potential plant breeding strategies for development of the utopian plant, allowing optimal sustainable production of ruminants.

scholarly journals Nematostella vectensis, an Emerging Model for Deciphering the Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Underlying Whole-Body Regeneration

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2692
Author(s):  
Eric Röttinger
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Marine Invertebrates ◽  
Marine Organism ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Nematostella Vectensis ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Regenerative Capacity ◽  
The Past ◽  
Insight Into

The capacity to regenerate lost or injured body parts is a widespread feature within metazoans and has intrigued scientists for centuries. One of the most extreme types of regeneration is the so-called whole body regenerative capacity, which enables regeneration of fully functional organisms from isolated body parts. While not exclusive to this habitat, whole body regeneration is widespread in aquatic/marine invertebrates. Over the past decade, new whole-body research models have emerged that complement the historical models Hydra and planarians. Among these, the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis has attracted increasing interest in regard to deciphering the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the whole-body regeneration process. This manuscript will present an overview of the biological features of this anthozoan cnidarian as well as the available tools and resources that have been developed by the scientific community studying Nematostella. I will further review our current understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying whole-body regeneration in this marine organism, with emphasis on how comparing embryonic development and regeneration in the same organism provides insight into regeneration specific elements.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document