Evolution and genetic architecture of sex-limited polymorphism in cuckoos.

Sex-limited polymorphism has evolved in many species including our own. Yet, we lack a detailed understanding of the underlying genetic variation and evolutionary processes at work. The brood parasitic common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is a prime example of female-limited color polymorphism, where adult males are monochromatic gray and females exhibit either gray or rufous plumage. This polymorphism has been hypothesized to be governed by negative frequency-dependent selection whereby the rarer female morph is protected against harassment by males or from mobbing by parasitized host species. Here, we show that female plumage dichromatism maps to the female-restricted genome. We further demonstrate that, consistent with balancing selection, ancestry of the rufous phenotype is shared with the likewise female dichromatic sister species, the oriental cuckoo (Cuculus optatus). This study shows that sex-specific polymorphism in trait variation can be resolved by genetic variation residing on a sex-limited chromosome and be maintained across species boundaries.

Ranging behaviours across ecological and anthropogenic disturbance gradients: a pan-African perspective of giraffe (Giraffa spp.) space use.

Animal movement behaviours are shaped by diverse factors, including resource availability and human impacts on the landscape. We generated home range estimates and daily movement rate estimates for 149 giraffe (Giraffa spp.) from all four species across Africa to evaluate the effects of environmental productivity and anthropogenic disturbance on space use. Using the continuous time movement modelling framework and a novel application of mixed effects meta-regression, we summarized overall giraffe space use and tested for the effects of resource availability and human impact on 95% autocorrelated kernel density estimate (AKDE) size and daily movement. The mean 95% AKDE was 359.9 km2 and the mean daily movement was 14.2 km, both with marginally significant differences across species. We found significant negative effects of resource availability, and significant positive effects of resource heterogeneity and protected area overlap on 95% AKDE size. There were significant negative effects of overall anthropogenic disturbance and positive effects of the heterogeneity of anthropogenic disturbance on daily movements and 95% AKDE size. Our results provide unique insights into the interactive effects of resource availability and anthropogenic development on the movements of a large-bodied browser and highlight the potential impacts of rapidly changing landscapes on animal space-use patterns.

A Chromatic Enzymatic Time-Temperature Integrator Device Based on the Degradation of Phenolic Compounds for the Real-Time Prediction of the Quality and Shelf Life of Cherries.

The particular characteristics of cherries, such as color, firmness, and palate increase their demand, as does, among other things, their antioxidant properties that benefit human health. However, their high perishability leads to a reduced shelf life and consequently generates undesirable changes in the cherry flow chain. To ensure food quality and safety and prevent food waste, a smart device prototype is proposed. The concepts related to the formulation and design of the enzymatic-type chromatic time-temperature integrator (TTI) device used to monitor the real-time quality of cherries are described. The kinetic parameters for thermal inactivation of cultivar Santina cherries were determined based on the degradation of phenolic compounds that are substrates of the polyphenol oxidase enzyme, whose hydroxylation reaction of a monophenol to o-diphenol leads to the oxidation in o-quinone. The proposed device concept aims to help retailers and consumers decide upon selling and buying according to the remaining shelf life, thus promoting sustainability related to food processes.

Innovative processes in smart packaging. A systematic review.

Smart packaging provides one possible solution that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In comparison with traditional packaging, which aims to extend the product's useful life and to facilitate transport and marketing, smart packaging allows increased efficiency, for example by ensuring authenticity and traceability from the product's origin, preventing fraud and theft, and improving security. Consequently, it may help to reduce pollution, food losses, and waste associated with the food supply chain. However, some questions must be answered to fully understand the advantages and limitations of its use. What are the most suitable smart packaging technologies for use in agro-industrial subsectors such as meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables, bakery, and pastry? What are the opportunities from a perspective of life extension, process optimization, traceability, product quality, and safety? What are the future challenges? An up-to-date, systematic review was conducted of literature relevant to the application of indicator technologies, sensors, and data carriers in smart packaging, to answer these questions. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

What is the role of active packaging in the future of food sustainability? A systematic review.

Nowadays, the strong increase in products consumption, the purchase of products on online platforms as well as the requirements for greater safety and food protection are a concern for food and packaging industries. Active packaging brings huge advances in the extension of product shelf-life and food degradation and losses reduction. This systematic work aims to collect and evaluate all existing strategies and technologies of active packaging that can be applied in food products, with a global view of new possibilities for food preservation. Oxygen scavengers, carbon dioxide emitters/absorbers, ethylene scavengers, antimicrobial and antioxidant active packaging, and other active systems and technologies are summarized including the products commercially available and the respective mechanisms of action. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

A single introduction of wild rabbits triggered the biological invasion of Australia.

Biological invasions are a major cause of environmental and economic disruption. While ecological factors are key determinants of their success, the role of genetics has been more challenging to demonstrate. The colonization of Australia by the European rabbit is one of the most iconic and devastating biological invasions in recorded history. Here, we show that despite numerous introductions over a 70-y period, this invasion was triggered by a single release of a few animals that spread thousands of kilometers across the continent. We found genetic support for historical accounts that these were English rabbits imported in 1859 by a settler named Thomas Austin and traced the origin of the invasive population back to his birthplace in England. We also find evidence of additional introductions that established local populations but have not spread geographically. Combining genomic and historical data we show that, contrary to the earlier introductions, which consisted mostly of domestic animals, the invasive rabbits had wild ancestry. In New Zealand and Tasmania, rabbits also became a pest several decades after being introduced. We argue that the common denominator of these invasions was the arrival of a new genotype that was better adapted to the natural environment. These findings demonstrate how the genetic composition of invasive individuals can determine the success of an introduction and provide a mechanism by which multiple introductions can be required for a biological invasion.

Irrupting prey populations in the absence of a mammalian apex predator drive shifts in prey selection by eagles.

Removal of apex predators can have far-reaching effects on the organization and structure of ecosystems. This occurs because apex predators can exert strong suppressive effects on their prey and competitors and perturbation of these interactions can shift the balance of interactions between dyads of species at lower trophic levels and trigger trophic cascades. Dingoes (Canis dingo) are Australia's largest mammalian carnivore. Because they are a pest to livestock producers, dingo populations are suppressed in many regions. Suppression of dingo populations has been linked to a suite of ecosystem changes due to ensuing population irruptions of their prey and competitors. Here, we investigate the impact that the suppression of dingoes has on the diet of wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax) in Australia's Strzelecki Desert. Wedge-tailed eagles are generalist predators that readily shift their diet in relation to prey availability. We assessed the abundance of species frequently preyed on by eagles and quantified prey remains at eagle nests located on either side of a dingo-proof fence where dingoes were common and rare, respectively. Wedge-tailed eagles consumed more species where dingoes were rare compared to where dingoes were common. Kangaroos (Macropodidae) and western bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) were more abundant and were consumed more frequently by eagles where dingoes were rare. Introduced European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were the prey item most frequently identified at eagle nests. However, rabbits were more abundant and their remains were found at a higher proportion of nests where dingoes were common. Our results provide evidence that shifts in the composition of vertebrate assemblages associated with the presence/absence of dingoes, particularly the irruption of kangaroos, influence the diet of wedge-tailed eagles. More generally, by showing that the presence/absence of dingoes can influence the diet of wedge-tailed eagles, our study highlights how pervasive apex predators' effects on ecosystems can be.

Manufacturing Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis in Canine Patients: Challenges and Recommendations.

The recent interest in advanced biologic therapies in veterinary medicine has opened up opportunities for new treatment modalities with considerable clinical potential. Studies with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from animal species have focused on in vitro characterization (mostly following protocols developed for human application), experimental testing in controlled studies and clinical use in veterinary patients. The ability of MSCs to interact with the inflammatory environment through immunomodulatory and paracrine mechanisms makes them a good candidate for treatment of inflammatory musculoskeletal conditions in canine species. Analysis of existing data shows promising results in the treatment of canine hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis and rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in both sport and companion animals. Despite the absence of clear regulatory frameworks for veterinary advanced therapy medicinal products, there has been an increase in the number of commercial cell-based products that are available for clinical applications, and currently the commercial use of veterinary MSC products has outpaced basic research on characterization of the cell product. In the absence of quality standards for MSCs for use in canine patients, their safety, clinical efficacy and production standards are uncertain, leading to a risk of poor product consistency. To deliver high-quality MSC products for veterinary use in the future, there are critical issues that need to be addressed. By translating standards and strategies applied in human MSC manufacturing to products for veterinary use, in a collaborative effort between stem cell scientists and veterinary researchers and surgeons, we hope to facilitate the development of quality standards. We point out critical issues that need to be addressed, including a much higher level of attention to cell characterization, manufacturing standards and release criteria. We provide a set of recommendations that will contribute to the standardization of cell manufacturing methods and better quality assurance.

The Performance of Minicircle DNA Versus Parental Plasmid in p53 Gene Delivery Into HPV-18-Infected Cervical Cancer Cells.

Minicircle DNA (mcDNA) has been suggested as a vanguard technology for gene therapy, consisting of a nonviral DNA vector devoid of prokaryotic sequences. Unlike conventional plasmid DNA (pDNA), this small vector is able to sustain high expression rates throughout time. Thus, this work describes the construction, production, and purification of mcDNA-p53 and its precursor parental plasmid (PP)-p53 for a comparative study of both DNA vectors in the growth suppression of human papillomavirus (HPV)-18-infected cervical cancer cells. First, live cell imaging and fluorescence microscopy studies allowed to understand that mcDNA-p53 vector was able to enter cell nuclei more rapidly than PP-p53 vector, leading to a transfection efficiency of 68% against 34%, respectively. Then, p53 transcripts and protein expression assessment revealed that both vectors were able to induce transcription and the target protein expression. However, the mcDNA-p53 vector performance stood out, by demonstrating higher p53 expression levels (91.65 ± 2.82 U/mL vs. 74.75 ± 4.44 U/mL). After assuring the safety of both vectors by viability studies, such potential was confirmed by proliferation and apoptosis assays. These studies confirmed the mcDNA-p53 vector function toward cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HPV-18-infected cervical cancer cells. Altogether, these results suggest that the mcDNA vector has a more promising and efficient role as a DNA vector than conventional pDNA, opening new investigation lines for cervical cancer treatment in the future.

Parallel adaptation of rabbit populations to myxoma virus.

In the 1950s the myxoma virus was released into European rabbit populations in Australia and Europe, decimating populations and resulting in the rapid evolution of resistance. We investigated the genetic basis of resistance by comparing the exomes of rabbits collected before and after the pandemic. We found a strong pattern of parallel evolution, with selection on standing genetic variation favoring the same alleles in Australia, France, and the United Kingdom. Many of these changes occurred in immunity-related genes, supporting a polygenic basis of resistance. We experimentally validated the role of several genes in viral replication and showed that selection acting on an interferon protein has increased the protein's antiviral effect.

Adaptive introgression underlies polymorphic seasonal camouflage in snowshoe hares.

Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) maintain seasonal camouflage by molting to a white winter coat, but some hares remain brown during the winter in regions with low snow cover. We show that cis-regulatory variation controlling seasonal expression of the Agouti gene underlies this adaptive winter camouflage polymorphism. Genetic variation at Agouti clustered by winter coat color across multiple hare and jackrabbit species, revealing a history of recurrent interspecific gene flow. Brown winter coats in snowshoe hares likely originated from an introgressed black-tailed jackrabbit allele that has swept to high frequency in mild winter environments. These discoveries show that introgression of genetic variants that underlie key ecological traits can seed past and ongoing adaptation to rapidly changing environments.

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

Host 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.

Population genomics reveals that an anthropophilic population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in West Africa recently gave rise to American and Asian populations of this major disease vector.

BACKGROUND: The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the main vector of dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever viruses. This major disease vector is thought to have arisen when the African subspecies Ae. aegypti formosus evolved from being zoophilic and living in forest habitats into a form that specialises on humans and resides near human population centres. The resulting domestic subspecies, Ae. aegypti aegypti, is found throughout the tropics and largely blood-feeds on humans. RESULTS: To understand this transition, we have sequenced the exomes of mosquitoes collected from five populations from around the world. We found that Ae. aegypti specimens from an urban population in Senegal in West Africa were more closely related to populations in Mexico and Sri Lanka than they were to a nearby forest population. We estimate that the populations in Senegal and Mexico split just a few hundred years ago, and we found no evidence of Ae. aegypti aegypti mosquitoes migrating back to Africa from elsewhere in the tropics. The out-of-Africa migration was accompanied by a dramatic reduction in effective population size, resulting in a loss of genetic diversity and rare genetic variants. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that a domestic population of Ae. aegypti in Senegal and domestic populations on other continents are more closely related to each other than to other African populations. This suggests that an ancestral population of Ae. aegypti evolved to become a human specialist in Africa, giving rise to the subspecies Ae. aegypti aegypti. The descendants of this population are still found in West Africa today, and the rest of the world was colonised when mosquitoes from this population migrated out of Africa. This is the first report of an African population of Ae. aegypti aegypti mosquitoes that is closely related to Asian and American populations. As the two subspecies differ in their ability to vector disease, their existence side by side in West Africa may have important implications for disease transmission.

Levels and Patterns of Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Domestic Rabbits.

Over thousands of years humans changed the genetic and phenotypic composition of several organisms and in the process transformed wild species into domesticated forms. From this close association, domestic animals emerged as important models in biomedical and fundamental research, in addition to their intrinsic economical and cultural value. The domestic rabbit is no exception but few studies have investigated the impact of domestication on its genetic variability. In order to study patterns of genetic structure in domestic rabbits and to quantify the genetic diversity lost with the domestication process, we genotyped 45 microsatellites for 471 individuals belonging to 16 breeds and 13 wild localities. We found that both the initial domestication and the subsequent process of breed formation, when averaged across breeds, culminated in losses of ~20% of genetic diversity present in the ancestral wild population and domestic rabbits as a whole, respectively. Despite the short time elapsed since breed diversification we uncovered a well-defined structure in domestic rabbits where the FST between breeds was 22%. However, we failed to detect deeper levels of structure, probably consequence of a recent and single geographic origin of domestication together with a non-bifurcating process of breed formation, which were often derived from crosses between two or more breeds. Finally, we found evidence for intrabreed stratification that is associated with demographic and selective causes such as formation of strains, colour morphs within the same breed, or country/breeder of origin. These additional layers of population structure within breeds should be taken into account in future mapping studies.

Candidate genes underlying heritable differences in reproductive seasonality between wild and domestic rabbits.

Reproductive seasonality is a trait that often differs between domestic animals and their wild ancestors, with domestic animals showing prolonged or even continuous breeding seasons. However, the genetic basis underlying this trait is still poorly understood for most species, and because environmental factors and resource availability are known to play an important role in determining breeding seasons, it is also not clear in most cases to what extent this phenotypic shift is determined by the more lenient captive conditions or by genetic factors. Here, using animals resulting from an initial cross between wild and domestic rabbits followed by two consecutive backcrosses (BC1 and BC2) to wild rabbits, we evaluated the yearly distribution of births for the different generations. Similar to domestic rabbits, F1 animals could be bred all year round but BC1 and BC2 animals showed a progressive and significant reduction in the span of the breeding season, providing experimental evidence that reduced seasonal breeding in domestic rabbits has a clear genetic component and is not a simple by-product of rearing conditions. We then took advantage of a recently published genome-wide scan of selection in the domesticated lineage and searched for candidate genes potentially associated with this phenotypic shift. Candidate genes located within regions targeted by selection include well-known examples of genes controlling clock functions (CRY1 and NR3C1) and reproduction (PRLR).

Rabbit genome analysis reveals a polygenic basis for phenotypic change during domestication.

The genetic changes underlying the initial steps of animal domestication are still poorly understood. We generated a high-quality reference genome for the rabbit and compared it to resequencing data from populations of wild and domestic rabbits. We identified more than 100 selective sweeps specific to domestic rabbits but only a relatively small number of fixed (or nearly fixed) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for derived alleles. SNPs with marked allele frequency differences between wild and domestic rabbits were enriched for conserved noncoding sites. Enrichment analyses suggest that genes affecting brain and neuronal development have often been targeted during domestication. We propose that because of a truly complex genetic background, tame behavior in rabbits and other domestic animals evolved by shifts in allele frequencies at many loci, rather than by critical changes at only a few domestication loci.

Conhecimento e conduta dos nefrologistas frente à relação bidirecional entre a doença periodontal e a doença renal crônica / Knowledge and conduct of nephrologists front bidirectional relationship between periodontal disease and chronic renal failure

Objetivo: Avaliar o conhecimento e a conduta dos nefrologistas ativos diante da possível relação entre a DRC e DP. Métodos: Por meio de perguntas via e-mail foram entrevistados cinquenta (50) nefrologistas. As respostas tiveram caráter confidencial e foram pertinentes a pesquisa. Resultados: Foram avaliados 58% do gênero masculino e 42% do gênero feminino, com idades variando de 27 a 70 anos. Dos cinquenta nefrologistas entrevistados 90% conhecem e 10% desconhecem o que é DP; 68% confirmam e 32% não sabem a existência de uma possível relação entre a DP e a DRC; 46% perguntam e 54% negam perguntar na anamnese sobre a visita ao dentista; 90% afirmam e 10% discordam sobre algum paciente ter relatado problema na gengiva; 66% já e 34% não perguntaram ao paciente sobre a saúde bucal; 64% afirmaram e 36% nunca se comunicaram com algum dentista; 60% notaram melhora na taxa de filtração glomerular em pacientes com boa saúde bucal e 40% não avaliaram a saúde bucal; 50% já leram e 50% nunca leram algum artigo relacionando a DP e a DRC; 76% iriam a um curso relacionando ambos os temas (DP e DRC) e 24% não iriam; 100% acham possível uma maior aproximação profissional entre ambas as classes (médica e odontológica) Conclusão: Diante da possível existência da relação bidirecional entre a DRC e a DP, nefrologistas e cirurgiões-dentistas devem trabalhar em uma estreita cooperação visando uma melhoria na qualidade de vida do paciente renal

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge and conduct of nephrologists active on the possible relationship between CKD and PD. Methods: Through questions via e-mail were interviewed fifty (50) nephrologists. The answers were confidential and were relevant research. Results: A total of 58% males and 42% females, with ages ranging from 27 to 70 years. Of the fifty surveyed nephrologists know 90% and 10% unaware of what is DP, 68% and 32% confirmed not know the existence of a possible relationship between PD and CKD, 46% and 54% ask deny ask during the interview on the visit to dentist, 90% state and 10% disagreed on some patients have reported problems in the gums; 66% now and 34% did not ask the patient about oral health, 64% and 36% reported never communicated with any dentist, 60% noted improvement in glomerular filtration rate in patients with good oral health and 40% did not assess oral health, 50% have read and 50% never read any article relating to PD and CKD, 76% would go to a course linking both issues (and DP DRC) and 24% would not, 100% can find more professional approach from both classes (medical and dental) Conclusion: Given the possible existence of a bidirectional relationship between CKD and PD, dentists and nephrologists should work in close cooperation aimed at improving the quality of life of renal patients

Inflamação e mal de Alzheimer: possível papel da doença periodontal / lnflammation and Alzheimer's disease: possible role of periodontal disease

Os mecanismos responsáveis pela etiologia e patogênese do Mal de Alzheimer (MA) ainda não foram bem definidos. No entanto, a inflamação possui um papel significativo no desenvolvimento da doença. Estudos demonstraram que a inflamação/infecção periférica pode apressar o aparecimento e progressão do MA. A periodontite crônica é uma doença infecciosa, a qual ocasiona anos de exposição bacteriana e inflamação local e sistêmica. Este artigo revisou a patogênese da Periodontite crônica e o papel da inflamação no MA. Nele foi proposta a hipótese de que a doença periodontal (DP) pode aumentar a inflamação no cérebro e contribuir para a progressão do MA. Contudo, a DP é uma infecção tratável, sendo assim um fator de risco modificável para o MA

The mechanisms responsible for the etiology and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (MA) have not yet been clearly defined. However, inflammation plays a significant role in the development of the disease. Studies have shown that inflammation/infection can hasten the emergence and peripheral progression of MA. Chronic periodontitis is an infectious disease which causes bacterial exposure years and local and systemic inflammation. This article has reviewed the pathogenesis of chronic Periodontitis and the role of inflammation in MA. It was proposed the hypothesis that periodontal disease (DP) can increase inflammation in the brain and contribute to the progression of the MA. However, the DP is a treatable infection, so a modifiable risk factor for the MA.

Perspectivas na regeneração periodontal com a terapia de células-tronco / Prospects in periodontal regeneration therapy with stem cells

A estrutura e composição do periodonto são afetadas por muitas doenças adquiridas e hereditárias, e a mais significante entre estas é a doença periodontal. Os requisitos principais para a engenharia tecidual é a incorporação de um número adequado de células progenitoras reativas e à presença de níveis bioativos de marcadores químicos dentro de uma matriz extracelular apropriada. A terapia com células-tronco é um tratamento que utiliza células-tronco, ou células que vêm a partir de células-tronco, para substituir ou reparar as células de um paciente ou tecidos lesados. Os recentes progressos na pesquisa com células-tronco e na engenharia tecidual prometem novas perspectivas para a regeneração dos tecidos na prática odontológica do futuro, com a regeneração de um dente funcional e vivendo como uma das mais promissoras estratégias terapêuticas para a substituição de um dente doente ou danificado.

The structure and composition of the periodontium are affected in many acquired and heritable diseases, and the most signifi cant among these is periodontal disease. Periodontal regeneration is considered to be organically promising but clinically capricious. The principal requirements for tissue engineering are the incorporation of appropriate numbers of responsive progenitor cells and the presence of bioactive levels of regulatory signals within an appropriate extracellular matrix or carrier construct. Stem cell therapy is a treatment that uses stem cells, or cells that come from stem cells, to replace or to repair a patient’s cells or tissues that are damaged. And, recent progress in stem cell research and in tissue engineering promises novel prospects for tissue regeneration in dental practice in the future, with regeneration of a functional and living tooth as one of the most promising therapeutic strategies for the replacement of a diseased or damaged tooth.