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Capel SLR, Hamilton NM, Fraser D, Escalona M, Nguyen O, Sacco S, Sahasrabudhe R, Seligmann W, Vazquez JM, Sudmant PH, Morrison ML, Wayne RK, Buchalski MR. Reference genome of Townsend's big-eared bat, Corynorhinus townsendii. J Hered 2024; 115:203-211. [PMID: 38092381 PMCID: PMC10936552 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esad078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Townsend's big-eared bat, Corynorhinus townsendii, is a cave- and mine-roosting species found largely in western North America. Considered a species of conservation concern throughout much of its range, protection efforts would greatly benefit from understanding patterns of population structure, genetic diversity, and local adaptation. To facilitate such research, we present the first de novo genome assembly of C. townsendii as part of the California Conservation Genomics Project (CCGP). Pacific Biosciences HiFi long reads and Omni-C chromatin-proximity sequencing technologies were used to produce a de novo genome assembly, consistent with the standard CCGP reference genome protocol. This assembly comprises 391 scaffolds spanning 2.1 Gb, represented by a scaffold N50 of 174.6 Mb, a contig N50 of 23.4 Mb, and a benchmarking universal single-copy ortholog (BUSCO) completeness score of 96.6%. This high-quality genome will be a key tool for informed conservation and management of this vulnerable species in California and across its range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L R Capel
- Wildlife Genetics Research Unit, Wildlife Health Laboratory, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Natalie M Hamilton
- Department of Rangeland Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Devaughn Fraser
- Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Hartford, CT, United States
| | - Merly Escalona
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Oanh Nguyen
- DNA Technologies and Expression Analysis Core Laboratory, Genome Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Samuel Sacco
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Ruta Sahasrabudhe
- DNA Technologies and Expression Analysis Core Laboratory, Genome Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - William Seligmann
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Juan M Vazquez
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Peter H Sudmant
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Michael L Morrison
- Department of Rangeland Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Robert K Wayne
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Michael R Buchalski
- Wildlife Genetics Research Unit, Wildlife Health Laboratory, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento, CA, United States
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Salomon GR, Gaglioti AL, Machado LPB, Carrasco AOT, Mateus RP. Note on the phylogenetic position of Eptesicus species in the Vespertilionidae family (Chiroptera) using Brazilian bats and RAG2 sequences. BRAZ J BIOL 2024; 84:e258210. [DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.258210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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3
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Barbosa AD, Egan S, Feng Y, Xiao L, Ryan U. How significant are bats as potential carriers of zoonotic Cryptosporidium and Giardia? CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2023; 4:100155. [PMID: 38149267 PMCID: PMC10750029 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Bats are known to harbour various pathogens and are increasingly recognised as potential reservoirs for zoonotic diseases. This paper reviews the genetic diversity and zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in bats. The risk of zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium from bats to humans appears low, with bat-specific Cryptosporidium genotypes accounting for 91.5% of Cryptosporidium-positive samples genotyped from bats worldwide, and C. parvum and C. hominis accounting for 3.4% each of typed positives, respectively. To date, there have only been sporadic detections of Giardia in bats, with no genetic characterisation of the parasite to species or assemblage level. Therefore, the role bats play as reservoirs of zoonotic Giardia spp. is unknown. To mitigate potential risks of zoonotic transmission and their public health implications, comprehensive research on Cryptosporidium and Giardia in bats is imperative. Future studies should encompass additional locations across the globe and a broader spectrum of bat species, with a focus on those adapted to urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda D. Barbosa
- Harry Butler Institute, Vector- and Water-Borne Pathogen Research Group, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
- CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasilia, DF 70040-020, Brazil
| | - Siobhon Egan
- Harry Butler Institute, Vector- and Water-Borne Pathogen Research Group, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Yaoyu Feng
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Lihua Xiao
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Una Ryan
- Harry Butler Institute, Vector- and Water-Borne Pathogen Research Group, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
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Li X, Li H, Yang Z, Wu Y, Zhang M. Exploring objective feature sets in constructing the evolution relationship of animal genome sequences. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:634. [PMID: 37872534 PMCID: PMC10594854 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09747-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exploring evolution regularities of genome sequences and constructing more objective species evolution relationships at the genomic level are high-profile topics. Based on the evolution mechanism of genome sequences proposed in our previous research, we found that only the 8-mers containing CG or TA dinucleotides correlate directly with the evolution of genome sequences, and the relative frequency rather than the actual frequency of these 8-mers is more suitable to characterize the evolution of genome sequences. RESULT Therefore, two types of feature sets were obtained, they are the relative frequency sets of CG1 + CG2 8-mers and TA1 + TA2 8-mers. The evolution relationships of mammals and reptiles were constructed by the relative frequency set of CG1 + CG2 8-mers, and two types of evolution relationships of insects were constructed by the relative frequency sets of CG1 + CG2 8-mers and TA1 + TA2 8-mers respectively. Through comparison and analysis, we found that evolution relationships are consistent with the known conclusions. According to the evolution mechanism, we considered that the evolution relationship constructed by CG1 + CG2 8-mers reflects the evolution state of genome sequences in current time, and the evolution relationship constructed by TA1 + TA2 8-mers reflects the evolution state in the early stage. CONCLUSION Our study provides objective feature sets in constructing evolution relationships at the genomic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Li
- Laboratory of Theoretical Biophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010021, China
| | - Hong Li
- Laboratory of Theoretical Biophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010021, China.
| | - Zhenhua Yang
- School of Economics and Management, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, 014010, China
| | - Yuan Wu
- Laboratory of Theoretical Biophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010021, China
| | - Mengchuan Zhang
- Laboratory of Theoretical Biophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010021, China
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Pimentel PB, Ferraz JF, Santigo CS, Soares EM, Morielle-Versute E, Taboga SR, Souza CC, Beguelini MR. Comparative analysis of male reproductive accessory glands in bats Histiotus velatus (Vespertilionidae), Molossus rufus (Molossidae), and Peropteryx leucoptera (Emballonuridae). Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2022. [PMID: 36579698 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Despite the high number of species and wide geographic dispersion, reproductive accessory glands (RAGs) of bats have traditionally received little attention in the literature, with some species not even having a basic description of their composition and structure. Thus, this study aimed to analyze and compare the composition, anatomy, and histology of male RAGs of bat species belonging to three of the largest (cosmopolitan) bat families: Vespertilionidae (Histiotus velatus), Molossidae (Molossus rufus), and Emballonuridae (Peropteryx leucoptera), in order to understand the variations in the bat RAGs. The results showed that the RAGs of H. velatus, M. rufus, and P. leucoptera are composed of an intra-abdominal prostatic complex, associated with the urethra, urethral glands, and a pair of inguinal bulbourethral glands; without ampullary glands or seminal vesicles. The prostatic complex can be composed of two (M. rufus and P. leucoptera) or three (H. velatus) prostatic regions, and can be compact (P. leucoptera), semi-lobed (M. rufus), or multilobed (H. velatus). Each prostatic region has unique and distinct characteristics, with the ventral region presenting a holocrine nature, exclusive to bats; while the dorsal and/or dorsolateral regions have similar characteristics to the ventral prostate of rats and to the human peripheral zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pollyana B Pimentel
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Juliana Filgueira Ferraz
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Cornélio Souza Santigo
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Emília Miguel Soares
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Eliana Morielle-Versute
- Department of Zoology and Botany, UNESP - University Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sebastião R Taboga
- Department of Biology, UNESP - University Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolina C Souza
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Mateus R Beguelini
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
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Laine VN, Sävilammi T, Wahlberg N, Meramo K, Ossa G, Johnson JS, Blomberg AS, Yeszhanov AB, Yung V, Paterson S, Lilley TM. Whole-genome Analysis Reveals Contrasting Relationships Among Nuclear and Mitochondrial Genomes Between Three Sympatric Bat Species. Genome Biol Evol 2022; 15:6955983. [PMID: 36546695 PMCID: PMC9825270 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding mechanisms involved in speciation can be challenging, especially when hybridization or introgression blurs species boundaries. In bats, resolving relationships of some closely related groups has proved difficult due subtle interspecific variation both in morphometrics and molecular data sets. The endemic South American Histiotus bats, currently considered a subgenus of Eptesicus, harbor unresolved phylogenetic relationships and of those is a trio consisting of two closely related species: Eptesicus (Histiotus) macrotus and Eptesicus (Histiotus) montanus, and their relationship with a third, Eptesicus (Histiotus) magellanicus. The three sympatric species bear marked resemblance to each other, but can be differentiated morphologically. Furthermore, previous studies have been unable to differentiate the species from each other at a molecular level. In order to disentangle the phylogenetic relationships of these species, we examined the differentiation patterns and evolutionary history of the three Eptesicus (H.) species at the whole-genome level. The nuclear DNA statistics between the species suggest strong gene flow and recent hybridization between E. (H.) montanus and E. (H.) macrotus, whereas E. (H.) magellanicus shows a higher degree of isolation. In contrast, mitochondrial DNA shows a closer relationship between E. (H.) magellanicus and E. (H.) montanus. Opposing patterns in mtDNA and nuclear markers are often due to differences in dispersal, and here it could be both as a result of isolation in refugia during the last glacial maximum and female philopatry and male-biased dispersal. In conclusion, this study shows the importance of both the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA in resolving phylogenetic relationships and species histories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika N Laine
- BatLab Finland, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tiina Sävilammi
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland,Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | | | - Katarina Meramo
- BatLab Finland, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gonzalo Ossa
- ConserBat EIRL, San Fabian, Chile,Asociación Murciélagos de Chile Pinüike, Santiago, Chile
| | - Joseph S Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Aidyn B Yeszhanov
- Institute of Zoology of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Veronica Yung
- Departamento Laboratorio Biomédico, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Steve Paterson
- Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Kiwira Virus, a Newfound Hantavirus Discovered in Free-tailed Bats (Molossidae) in East and Central Africa. Viruses 2022; 14:v14112368. [PMID: 36366466 PMCID: PMC9693593 DOI: 10.3390/v14112368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
A novel hantavirus, named Kiwira virus, was molecularly detected in six Angolan free-tailed bats (Mops condylurus, family Molossidae) captured in Tanzania and in one free-tailed bat in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hantavirus RNA was found in different organs, with the highest loads in the spleen. Nucleotide sequences of large parts of the genomic S and L segments were determined by in-solution hybridisation capture and high throughput sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses placed Kiwira virus into the genus Mobatvirus of the family Hantaviridae, with the bat-infecting Quezon virus and Robina virus as closest relatives. The detection of several infected individuals in two African countries, including animals with systemic hantavirus infection, provides evidence of active replication and a stable circulation of Kiwira virus in M. condylurus bats and points to this species as a natural host. Since the M. condylurus home range covers large regions of Sub-Saharan Africa and the species is known to roost inside and around human dwellings, a potential spillover of the Kiwira virus to humans must be considered.
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Dolabela Falcão LA, Araújo WS, Leite LO, Fagundes M, Espírito-Santo MM, Zazá-Borges MA, Vasconcelos P, Fernandes GW, Paglia A. Network Structure of Bat-Ectoparasitic Interactions in Tropical Dry Forests at Two Different Regions in Brazil. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2022. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2022.24.1.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luiz A. Dolabela Falcão
- 1Departamento de Biologia Geral, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, CEP 39401-089, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Walter Santos Araújo
- 1Departamento de Biologia Geral, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, CEP 39401-089, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lemuel O. Leite
- 1Departamento de Biologia Geral, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, CEP 39401-089, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marcilio Fagundes
- 1Departamento de Biologia Geral, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, CEP 39401-089, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mario M. Espírito-Santo
- 1Departamento de Biologia Geral, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, CEP 39401-089, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Magno A. Zazá-Borges
- 1Departamento de Biologia Geral, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, CEP 39401-089, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Pedro Vasconcelos
- 1Departamento de Biologia Geral, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, CEP 39401-089, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Geraldo W. Fernandes
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, CEP 31270-010, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Adriano Paglia
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, CEP 31270-010, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Camacho MA, Cadar D, Horváth B, Merino-Viteri A, Murienne J. Revised phylogeny from complete mitochondrial genomes of phyllostomid bats resolves subfamilial classification. Zool J Linn Soc 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Classically, molecular phylogenetic trees of Phyllostomidae have been inferred using a combination of a few mitochondrial and nuclear markers. However, there is still uncertainty in the relationships, especially among deep clades within the family. In this study, we provide newly sequenced complete mitochondrial genomes from 26 bat species, including genomes of 23 species reported here for the first time. By carefully analysing these genomes using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods and different ingroup and outgroup samples, partition schemes and data types, we investigated the robustness and sensitivity of our phylogenetic results. The optimal topologies were those inferred from the complete data matrix of nucleotides, with complex and highly parameterized substitution models and partition schemes. Our results show a statistically robust picture of the evolutionary relationships between phyllostomid subfamilies and clarify hitherto uncertain relationships of Lonchorhininae and Macrotinae.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Alejandra Camacho
- Museo de Zoología (QCAZ), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador , Quito, Pichincha , Ecuador
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (UMR5174), CNRS, IRD, Université Paul Sabatier , Toulouse , France
| | - Dániel Cadar
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, BernhardNocht Institute for Tropical Medicine , Hamburg , Germany
| | - Balázs Horváth
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, BernhardNocht Institute for Tropical Medicine , Hamburg , Germany
| | - Andrés Merino-Viteri
- Museo de Zoología (QCAZ), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador , Quito, Pichincha , Ecuador
- Laboratorio de Ecofisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católicadel Ecuador , Quito, Pichincha , Ecuador
| | - Jérôme Murienne
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (UMR5174), CNRS, IRD, Université Paul Sabatier , Toulouse , France
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Choi M, Cho HS, Ahn B, Prathap S, Nagasundarapandian S, Park C. Genomewide Analysis and Biological Characterization of Cathelicidins with Potent Antimicrobial Activity and Low Cytotoxicity from Three Bat Species. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11080989. [PMID: 35892379 PMCID: PMC9330922 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11080989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cathelicidins are potent antimicrobial peptides with broad spectrum antimicrobial activity in many vertebrates and an important component of the innate immune system. However, our understanding of the genetic variations and biological characteristics of bat cathelicidins is limited. In this study, we performed genome-level analysis of the antimicrobial peptide cathelicidins from seven bat species in the six families, listed 19 cathelicidin-like sequences, and showed that the number of functional cathelicidin genes differed among bat species. Based on the identified biochemical characteristics of bat cathelicidins, three cathelicidins, HA-CATH (from Hipposideros armiger), ML-CATH (from Myotis lucifugus), and PD-CATH (from Phyllostomus discolor), with clear antimicrobial signatures were chemically synthesized and evaluated antimicrobial activity. HA-CATH showed narrow-spectrum antibacterial activity against a panel of 12 reference bacteria, comprising 6 Gram-negative and 6 Gram-positive strains. However, ML-CATH and PD-CATH showed potent antibacterial activity against a broad spectrum of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1 and 3 μg/mL, respectively, against Staphylococcus aureus. ML-CATH and PD-CATH also showed antifungal activities against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus cuniculi with MIC of 5 to 40 μg/mL, respectively, and 80% inhibition of the metabolism of Mucor hiemalis hyphae at 80 μg/mL, while displaying minimal cytotoxicity to HaCaT cells. Taken together, although the spectrum and efficacy of bat cathelicidins were species-dependent, the antimicrobial activity of ML-CATH and PD-CATH was comparable to that of other highly active cathelicidins in vertebrates while having negligible cytotoxicity to mammalian cells. ML-CATH and PD-CATH can be exploited as promising candidates for the development of antimicrobial therapeutics.
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11
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Du H, Zhang L, Zhang X, Yun F, Chang Y, Tuersun A, Aisaiti K, Ma Z. Metagenome-Assembled Viral Genomes Analysis Reveals Diversity and Infectivity of the RNA Virome of Gerbillinae Species. Viruses 2022; 14:356. [PMID: 35215951 PMCID: PMC8874536 DOI: 10.3390/v14020356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodents are a known reservoir for extensive zoonotic viruses, and also possess a propensity to roost in human habitation. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and catalogue the potentially emerging zoonotic viruses that are carried by rodents. Here, viral metagenomic sequencing was used for zoonotic virus detection and virome characterization on 32 Great gerbils of Rhombomys opimus, Meriones meridianus, and Meiiones Unguiculataus species in Xinjiang, Northwest China. In total, 1848 viral genomes that are potentially pathogenic to rodents and humans, as well as to other wildlife, were identified namely Retro-, Flavi-, Pneumo-, Picobirna-, Nairo-, Arena-, Hepe-, Phenui-, Rhabdo-, Calici-, Reo-, Corona-, Orthomyxo-, Peribunya-, and Picornaviridae families. In addition, a new genotype of rodent Hepacivirus was identified in heart and lung homogenates of seven viscera pools and phylogenetic analysis revealed the closest relationship to rodent Hepacivirus isolate RtMm-HCV/IM2014 that was previously reported to infect rodents from Inner Mongolia, China. Moreover, nine new genotype viral sequences that corresponded to Picobirnaviruses (PBVs), which have a bi-segmented genome and belong to the family Picobirnaviridae, comprising of three segment I and six segment II sequences, were identified in intestines and liver of seven viscera pools. In the two phylogenetic trees that were constructed using ORF1 and ORF2 of segment I, the three segment I sequences were clustered into distinct clades. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis showed that PBV sequences were distributed in the whole tree that was constructed using the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene of segment II with high diversity, sharing 68.42-82.67% nucleotide identities with other genogroup I and genogroup II PBV strains based on the partial RdRp gene. By RNA sequencing, we found a high degree of biodiversity of Retro-, Flavi-, Pneumo-, and Picobirnaridae families and other zoonotic viruses in gerbils, indicating that zoonotic viruses are a common presence in gerbils from Xinjiang, China. Therefore, further research is needed to determine the zoonotic potential of these viruses that are carried by other rodent species from different ecosystems and wildlife in general.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Zhenghai Ma
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China; (H.D.); (L.Z.); (X.Z.); (F.Y.); (Y.C.); (A.T.); (K.A.)
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12
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Sato H, Mafie E. "Visiting old, learn new": taxonomical overview of chiropteran trypanosomes from the morphology to the genes. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:805-822. [PMID: 35106654 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07423-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Bats (the order Chiroptera) account for more than 20% of all mammalian species in the world; remarkably, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight using their wing-like forelimbs. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, various morphotypes (or genotypes in the last decade) of haemoflagellates in the genus Trypanosoma (Euglenozoa: Kinetoplastea: Trypanosomatidae) have been reported worldwide in the blood of bats. Of note, the latent nature of chiropteran trypanosome infection with low levels of parasitaemia, together with the apparent morphological variation of the bloodstream forms related to phenotypical plasticity and the morphological resemblance of different parasite species, has hampered the taxonomic classification of bat trypanosomes based on morphological criteria. This said, 50 years ago, Hoare (1972) provisionally divided bat trypanosomes into two major morphotypes: the megadermae group (corresponding to the subgenus Megatrypanum in the traditional taxonomic system; 8 species) and the vespertilionis group (similar to the subgenus Schizotrypanum; 5 species). Importantly, the biological and biochemical analyses of bat trypanosomes isolated by haemoculture, together with the molecular genetic characterisation using various gene markers, allowed the establishment of clear phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships of various isolates from different continents in the last two decades. Here, we review the historical taxonomic approaches used to define chiropteran trypanosomes, as well as the ones currently employed to shed light on the diversity and evolutional tracks of the globally distributed chiropteran trypanosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Sato
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan.
- Division of Pathogenic Microorganisms, Research Center for Thermotolerant Microbial Resources, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan.
| | - Eliakunda Mafie
- Department of Microbiology, Parasitology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
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13
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Giannini NP, Goloboff PA. DUALCOR: a phylogenetic comparative method to evaluate phylogenetic correlation between a character and a non-evolving external variable. Cladistics 2021; 37:586-595. [PMID: 34570936 DOI: 10.1111/cla.12450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A new phylogenetic comparative method called DUALCOR is presented to evaluate the evolutionary response of a character to non-evolving external factors, such as environmental variables. The method treats the character as a typical evolving feature of an organism that is reconstructed on a given tree, whereas the external factor is treated as unrelated to the phylogeny. DUALCOR first calculates the correlation/regression between the observed values of the character and the external factor; then it maps the character onto the phylogeny, shuffles the changes among branches, and re-evolves the character to yield new terminal values uncorrelated with the observed values of the external factor, allowing users to examine whether the observed degree of correlation can be attained at random. This is repeated n (say, 999) times, thereby using the dual nature of characters to construct a permutation test that is shown to satisfy requirements of Generalized Monte Carlo procedures. In addition, we provide an empirical example with a reverse test where the external variable (features determined largely by non-heritable factors) is the dependent variable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norberto P Giannini
- Unidad Ejecutora Lillo, CONICET / Fundación Miguel Lillo, Miguel Lillo 251, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, 4000, Argentina.,Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Miguel Lillo 205, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, 4000, Argentina.,Department of Mammalogy, Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY, 10024, USA
| | - Pablo A Goloboff
- Unidad Ejecutora Lillo, CONICET / Fundación Miguel Lillo, Miguel Lillo 251, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, 4000, Argentina.,Department of Entomology, Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY, 10024, USA
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14
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Bogoni JA, Carvalho-Rocha V, Ferraz KMPMB, Peres CA. Interacting elevational and latitudinal gradients determine bat diversity and distribution across the Neotropics. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:2729-2743. [PMID: 34553786 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
New World bats are heavily affected by the biophysical setting shaped by elevation and latitude. This study seeks to understand the patterns of bat species diversity across elevational, latitudinal and vegetation height gradients throughout the Neotropics. Systematically gathered putative and empirical data on bat species distribution across the entire Neotropics were examined using descriptive statistics, spatial interpolation of bat taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity, generalized linear models, generalized linear mixed models and phylogenetic generalized least squares. We uncoupled the effects of elevation, latitude and vegetation height to predict Neotropical bat diversity, showing that dietary level, home range and habitat breadth were the most important ecological traits determining coarse-scale bat distributions. Latitude was largely responsible for sorting the regional species pool, whereas elevation appears to apply an additional local filter to this regional pool wherever tropical mountains are present, thereby shaping the structure of montane assemblages. Bats provide multiple ecosystem services and our results can help pinpoint priority areas for bat research and conservation across all Neotropics, elucidate the thresholds of species distributions, and highlight bat diversity hotspots at multiple scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliano A Bogoni
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.,Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Escola Superior de Agricultura 'Luiz de Queiroz' (ESALQ), Departamento de Ciências Florestais, Laboratório de Ecologia, Manejo e Conservação de Fauna Silvestre (LEMaC), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Vítor Carvalho-Rocha
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Katia M P M B Ferraz
- Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Escola Superior de Agricultura 'Luiz de Queiroz' (ESALQ), Departamento de Ciências Florestais, Laboratório de Ecologia, Manejo e Conservação de Fauna Silvestre (LEMaC), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Carlos A Peres
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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15
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Gupta P, Singh MP, Goyal K, Tripti P, Ansari MI, Obli Rajendran V, Dhama K, Malik YS. Bats and viruses: a death-defying friendship. Virusdisease 2021; 32:467-479. [PMID: 34518804 PMCID: PMC8426161 DOI: 10.1007/s13337-021-00716-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Bats have a primeval evolutionary origin and have adopted various survival methods. They have played a central role in the emergence of various viral diseases. The sustenance of a plethora of virus species inside them has been an earnest area of study. This review explains how the evolution of viruses in bats has been linked to their metabolic pathways, flight abilities, reproductive abilities and colonization behaviors. The utilization of host immune response by DNA and RNA viruses is a commencement of the understanding of differences in the impact of viral infection in bats from other mammals. Rabies virus and other lyssa viruses have had long documented history as bat viruses. While many others like Ebola virus, Nipah virus, Hantavirus, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and other new emerging viruses like Sosuga virus, Menangle and Tioman virus are now being studied extensively for their transmission in new hosts. The ongoing pandemic SARS-CoV-2 virus has also been implicated to be originated from bats. Certain factors have been linked to spillover events while the scope of entitlement of other conditions in the spread of diseases from bats still exists. However, certain physiological and ecological parameters have been linked to specific transmission patterns, and more definite proofs are awaited for establishing these connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parakriti Gupta
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Mini P. Singh
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Kapil Goyal
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Pande Tripti
- Biological Standardization Division, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR-IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India
| | - Mohd Ikram Ansari
- Department of Biosciences, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226026 India
| | - Vinodhkumar Obli Rajendran
- Division of Epidemiology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR-IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR-IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India
| | - Yashpal Singh Malik
- College of Animal Biotechnology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, Punjab 141 004 India
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16
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Taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic bat diversity decrease from more to less complex natural habitats in the Amazon. Oecologia 2021; 197:223-239. [PMID: 34368898 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-05009-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The high levels of biodiversity in the Amazon are maintained mostly due to its composition as a natural mosaic of different habitats, including both unflooded and flooded forests, campinaranas, and savannahs. Here, we compared multiple dimensions of α- and β- bat biodiversity between four natural Amazonian habitats (savannah, campinarana, forest patches, and continuous forest). In addition, we explored the extent to which bat communities in the different habitats are nested within one another, and compared the community-level functional uniqueness and community-weighted mean traits between habitats. Our results show that taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic α-diversity of bats is higher in continuous forest than in any of the other habitat types. The continuous forest also harbours more unique species, and indeed, the bat community assemblages in the less-complex habitats, including forest patches, campinarana and savannahs, are taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic sub-sets of the assemblage found in the continuous forest. By examining β-diversity partitions and species composition, we are able to shed light on the mechanisms behind the variation in diversity between the four habitat types, which reflect a process of environmental sorting along a habitat gradient going from a more complex to a less complex habitat. We conclude that nesting patterns along the mosaic of habitats are determined by differences in complexity between habitats and that taxonomic and functional uniqueness contribute to overall regional bat diversity and functionality. Ongoing human-induced disturbances of these habitats could provoke an unprecedented loss of bat diversity and functionality with negative consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services.
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17
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Live and Wet Markets: Food Access versus the Risk of Disease Emergence. Trends Microbiol 2021; 29:573-581. [PMID: 33712334 PMCID: PMC9189808 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Emerging zoonotic diseases exert a significant burden on human health and have considerable socioeconomic impact worldwide. In Asia, live animals as well as animal products are commonly sold in informal markets. The interaction of humans, live domestic animals for sale, food products, and wild and scavenging animals, creates a risk for emerging infectious diseases. Such markets have been in the spotlight as sources of zoonotic viruses, for example, avian influenza viruses and coronaviruses, Here, we bring data together on the global impact of live and wet markets on the emergence of zoonotic diseases. We discuss how benefits can be maximized and risks minimized and conclude that current regulations should be implemented or revised, to mitigate the risk of new diseases emerging in the future.
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18
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Hou DM, Jia T, Tao JQ, Wang ZK, Guan BR, Zhu WL. Browning plasticity of white adipose tissue in tree shrew during cold acclimation and rewarming. JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.25225/jvb.20097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Min Hou
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Adaptive Evolution and Conservation on Animals-Plants in Southwest Mountain Ecosystem of Yunnan Province Higher Institutes College, School of Life Science, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China; e-mail: ,
| | - Ting Jia
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China; e-mail:
| | - Jie-Qiong Tao
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Adaptive Evolution and Conservation on Animals-Plants in Southwest Mountain Ecosystem of Yunnan Province Higher Institutes College, School of Life Science, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China; e-mail: ,
| | - Zheng-Kun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Adaptive Evolution and Conservation on Animals-Plants in Southwest Mountain Ecosystem of Yunnan Province Higher Institutes College, School of Life Science, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China; e-mail: ,
| | - Bo-Ren Guan
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Adaptive Evolution and Conservation on Animals-Plants in Southwest Mountain Ecosystem of Yunnan Province Higher Institutes College, School of Life Science, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China; e-mail: ,
| | - Wan-Long Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Adaptive Evolution and Conservation on Animals-Plants in Southwest Mountain Ecosystem of Yunnan Province Higher Institutes College, School of Life Science, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China; e-mail: ,
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19
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Carvalho WD, Meyer CFJ, Xavier BDS, Mustin K, Castro IJD, Silvestre SM, Pathek DB, Capaverde UD, Hilário R, Toledo JJD. Consequences of Replacing Native Savannahs With Acacia Plantations for the Taxonomic, Functional, and Phylogenetic α- and β-Diversity of Bats in the Northern Brazilian Amazon. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.609214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Across the globe, millions of hectares of native vegetation have been replaced by commercial plantations, with negative consequences for biodiversity. The effects of the replacement of native vegetation with commercial plantations on the functional and phylogenetic diversity of bat assemblages remain understudied, and most studies have focused exclusively on the taxonomic component of diversity. Here, we investigate how the replacement of natural savannahs by acacia plantations affects the α- and β-diversity of bat assemblages. We sampled bats, using mist-nets at ground level, in natural forest, savannah areas and acacia plantations, in the Lavrados de Roraima in the northern Brazilian Amazon. Our results show that, in general, acacia is less diverse than native forests in terms of taxonomic and functional diversity, and is also less taxonomically diverse than the savannah matrix which it substitutes. The observed patterns of α- and β-diversity found in the present study are in large part driven by the superabundance of one generalist and opportunistic species, Carollia perspicillata, in the acacia plantations. Taken together, our results show that the replacement of areas of natural savannah by acacia plantations causes a regional loss in diversity across all diversity dimensions: taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic. However, further studies are required to fully understand the ecological and conservation implications of this landscape change.
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20
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Herculano-Houzel S, da Cunha FB, Reed JL, Kaswera-Kyamakya C, Gillissen E, Manger PR. Microchiropterans have a diminutive cerebral cortex, not an enlarged cerebellum, compared to megachiropterans and other mammals. J Comp Neurol 2020; 528:2978-2993. [PMID: 32656795 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Small echolocating bats are set apart from most other mammals by their relatively large cerebellum, a feature that has been associated to echolocation, as it is presumed to indicate a relatively enlarged number of neurons in the cerebellum in comparison to other brain structures. Here we quantify the neuronal composition of the cerebral cortex, cerebellum and remaining brain structures of seven species of large Pteropodid bats (formerly classified as megachiropterans), one of which echolocates, and six species of small bats (formerly classified as microchiropterans), all of which echolocate. This chiropteran data is compared to 60 mammalian species in our dataset to determine whether the relatively large cerebellum of the small echolocating bats, and possibly that of the echolocating Pteropodid, contains a relatively enlarged number of neurons. We find no evidence that the distribution of neurons differs between microchiropterans and megachiropterans, but our data indicate that microchiropterans, like the smallest shrew in our dataset, have diminutive cerebral cortices, which makes the cerebellum appear relatively large. We propose that, in agreement with the diminutive brain size of the earliest fossil mammals, this is a plesiomorphic, not a derived, feature of microchiropteran brains. The results of this study also reveal important neural characteristics related to the phylogenetic affinities and relationships of the chiropterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzana Herculano-Houzel
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Department Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Felipe Barros da Cunha
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Canada
| | - Jamie L Reed
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Emmanuel Gillissen
- Department of African Zoology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium.,Laboratory of Histology and Neuropathology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Anthropology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Paul R Manger
- School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
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21
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Sohn JH, Fukui D, Nojiri T, Minowa K, Kimura J, Koyabu D. Three-Dimensional and Histological Observations on Male Genital Organs of Greater Horseshoe Bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. J MAMM EVOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-020-09525-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAnatomy of bat genital organs has been conventionally studied by gross and microscopic observations to date. Here, we employ both histological observation and diceCT (diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography) to study the detailed three-dimensional morphological structure of the male genital organs in bats, using the greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. This is the first study to three-dimensionally describe the whole reproductive organs of bats in detail. Our highly resolved three-dimensional reconstruction reveals that the male organs of R. ferrumequinum consist of paired testes, epididymides, deferent ducts, and five accessory genital glands. The boundary between the ampullary and vesicular glands has been difficult to identify in previous observations, but our diceCT imaging allowed us to clearly differentiate the two. We found that the ampullary gland is located at the terminal part of the deferent ducts, and the vesicular gland lies distal to the ampullary glands. This species possesses a single and carrot-shaped urethral gland, which is not found in most chiropteran families. The presence of the urethral gland in this species and its secretions suggest that after copulation this species is capable of forming a vaginal plug, which can seal the female’s vaginal orifice to block the entrance of spermatozoa from other males. The presence of the urethral gland and elongated epididymal tail and the fact that some individuals can terminate their hibernation and reactivate imply forced copulation on hibernating females can occur in R. ferrumequinum.
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22
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Zuercher ME, Monson TA, Dvoretzky RR, Ravindramurthy S, Hlusko LJ. Dental Variation in Megabats (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae): Tooth Metrics Correlate with Body Size and Tooth Proportions Reflect Phylogeny. J MAMM EVOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-020-09508-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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23
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Abdel-Moneim AS, Abdelwhab EM. Evidence for SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Animal Hosts. Pathogens 2020; 9:E529. [PMID: 32629960 PMCID: PMC7400078 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9070529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 is the first known pandemic caused by a coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which is the third virus in the family Coronaviridae to cause fatal infections in humans after SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Animals are involved in the COVID-19 pandemic. This review summarizes the role of animals as reservoirs, natural hosts and experimental models. SARS-CoV-2 originated from animal reservoir, most likely bats and/or pangolins. Anthroponotic transmission has been reported in cats, dogs, tigers, lions and minks. As of now, there is no a strong evidence for natural animal-to-human transmission or sustained animal-to-animal transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Experimental infections conducted by several research groups have shown that monkeys, hamsters, ferrets, cats, tree shrews, transgenic mice and fruit bats were permissive, while dogs, pigs and poultry were resistant. There is an urgent need to understand the zoonotic potential of different viruses in animals, particularly in bats, before they transmit to humans. Vaccines or antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 should be evaluated not only for humans, but also for the protection of companion animals (particularly cats) and susceptible zoo and farm animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed S. Abdel-Moneim
- Microbiology Department, Virology Division, College of Medicine, Taif University, Al-Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; or
- Virology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62511, Egypt
| | - Elsayed M. Abdelwhab
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
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24
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Martin-Silverstone E, Habib MB, Hone DWE. Volant Fossil Vertebrates: Potential for Bioinspired Flight Technology. Trends Ecol Evol 2020; 35:618-629. [PMID: 32521245 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2017] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Animal flight is ecologically important and has a long evolutionary history. It has evolved independently in many distantly related clades of animals. Powered flight has evolved only three times in vertebrates, making it evolutionarily rare. Major recent fossil discoveries have provided key data on fossil flying vertebrates and critical insights regarding the evolution and different arrangements of animal flight surfaces. Combined with new methodologies, these discoveries have paved the way for potentially expanding biomimetic and biologically inspired designs to incorporate lessons from fossil taxa. Here, we review the latest knowledge and literature regarding flight performance in fossil vertebrates. We then synthesise key elements to provide an overview of those cases where fossil flyers might provide new insights for applied sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Martin-Silverstone
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK.
| | - Michael B Habib
- Dinosaur Institute, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 W Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
| | - David W E Hone
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
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25
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Page RA, Bernal XE. The challenge of detecting prey: Private and social information use in predatory bats. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ximena E. Bernal
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Balboa Panamá
- Department of Biological Sciences Purdue University West Lafayette Indiana
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26
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Kundu S, Kumar V, Tyagi K, Rath S, Pakrashi A, Saren PC, Laishram K, Chandra K. Mitochondrial DNA identified bat species in northeast India: electrocution mortality and biodiversity loss. MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES 2019; 4:2454-2458. [PMID: 33365582 PMCID: PMC7687647 DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2019.1638320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Northeast India with two biodiversity hotspots is recognized as a biodiversity-rich region. However, several extant animals including chiropterans are currently at jeopardy due to habitat loss, electrocution mortality, and other anthropogenic threats. This study examines the efficacy of mitochondrial Cytochrome b (mtCytb) sequences for species-level identification of five electrocuted bat specimens from Manipur state. The similarity search results in the global database, Kimura 2 parameter (K2P) genetic distances, and neighbor-joining (NJ) tree identified all bat specimens into two species, Cynopterus sphinx and Megaerops niphanae. The detection of M. niphanae is the first record of this mammal from the state. In comparison with other Pteropodidae species, the genetic distances clearly discriminate both C. sphinx (7.9–30.2%) and M. niphanae (12.2–25.7%). In addition, the combined tree analysis of present and earlier genetic information of C. sphinx suggested the presence of cryptic lineages and sympatric population in India. This similar approach with more sampling from a wide distribution area could assist the future genetics research on chiropterans and their precise conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shantanu Kundu
- Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India
| | - Vikas Kumar
- Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India
| | - Kaomud Tyagi
- Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India
| | - Shibananda Rath
- Freshwater Fish Section, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India
| | - Avas Pakrashi
- Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India
| | | | - Kosygin Laishram
- Freshwater Fish Section, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India
| | - Kailash Chandra
- Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India.,Freshwater Fish Section, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India.,Wildlife Section, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India
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27
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A metaanalysis of bat phylogenetics and positive selection based on genomes and transcriptomes from 18 species. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:11351-11360. [PMID: 31113885 PMCID: PMC6561249 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1814995116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
This work represents a large, order-wide evolutionary analysis of the order Chiroptera (bats). Our pipeline for assembling sequence data and curating orthologous multiple sequence alignments includes methods for improving results when combining genomic and transcriptomic data sources. The resulting phylogenetic tree divides the order Chiroptera into Yinpterochiroptera and Yangochiroptera, in disagreement with the previous division into Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera and in agreement with some other recent molecular studies, and also provides evidence for other contested branch placements. We also performed a genome-wide analysis of positive selection and found 181 genes with signatures of positive selection. Enrichment analysis shows these positively selected genes to be primarily related to immune responses but also, surprisingly, collagen formation. Historically, the evolution of bats has been analyzed using a small number of genetic loci for many species or many genetic loci for a few species. Here we present a phylogeny of 18 bat species, each of which is represented in 1,107 orthologous gene alignments used to build the tree. We generated a transcriptome sequence of Hypsignathus monstrosus, the African hammer-headed bat, and additional transcriptome sequence for Rousettus aegyptiacus, the Egyptian fruit bat. We then combined these data with existing genomic and transcriptomic data from 16 other bat species. In the analysis of such datasets, there is no clear consensus on the most reliable computational methods for the curation of quality multiple sequence alignments since these public datasets represent multiple investigators and methods, including different source materials (chromosomal DNA or expressed RNA). Here we lay out a systematic analysis of parameters and produce an advanced pipeline for curating orthologous gene alignments from combined transcriptomic and genomic data, including a software package: the Mismatching Isoform eXon Remover (MIXR). Using this method, we created alignments of 11,677 bat genes, 1,107 of which contain orthologs from all 18 species. Using the orthologous gene alignments created, we assessed bat phylogeny and also performed a holistic analysis of positive selection acting in bat genomes. We found that 181 genes have been subject to positive natural selection. This list is dominated by genes involved in immune responses and genes involved in the production of collagens.
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28
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Signatures of echolocation and dietary ecology in the adaptive evolution of skull shape in bats. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2036. [PMID: 31048713 PMCID: PMC6497661 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09951-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Morphological diversity may arise rapidly as a result of adaptation to novel ecological opportunities, but early bursts of trait evolution are rarely observed. Rather, models of discrete shifts between adaptive zones may better explain macroevolutionary dynamics across radiations. To investigate which of these processes underlie exceptional levels of morphological diversity during ecological diversification, we use modern phylogenetic tools and 3D geometric morphometric datasets to examine adaptive zone shifts in bat skull shape. Here we report that, while disparity was established early, bat skull evolution is best described by multiple adaptive zone shifts. Shifts are partially decoupled between the cranium and mandible, with cranial evolution more strongly driven by echolocation than diet. Phyllostomidae, a trophic adaptive radiation, exhibits more adaptive zone shifts than all other families combined. This pattern was potentially driven by ecological opportunity and facilitated by a shift to intermediate cranial shapes compared to oral-emitters and other nasal emitters. What drives changes in morphological diversity? Here, Arbour et al. analyse skull 3D shape evolution across the bat radiation using µCT scan data, finding two phases of skull shape diversification, early adaptive shifts related to echolocation, and more recent shifts related to diet transitions.
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29
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Flores-Abreu I, Trejo-Salazar R, Sánchez-Reyes L, Good S, Magallón S, García-Mendoza A, Eguiarte L. Tempo and mode in coevolution of Agave sensu lato (Agavoideae, Asparagaceae) and its bat pollinators, Glossophaginae (Phyllostomidae). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2019; 133:176-188. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2018] [Revised: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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30
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Generation of bat-derived influenza viruses and their reassortants. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1158. [PMID: 30718752 PMCID: PMC6362294 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37830-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Two novel influenza A virus-like genomes were detected in fruit bats in Central and South America. However, the biological properties of these bat-derived influenza viruses (BatIVs) are still largely unknown since infectious viral particles have never been isolated from the infected host species. In this study, a reverse genetics approach was used to generate infectious BatIV particles entirely from plasmids encoding full-length sequences in eight gene segments. We inoculated BatIV particles into various cell cultures including bat-derived cell lines and found that BatIVs infected particular bat-derived cells efficiently but not the other cell lines tested. Reassortant viruses between the two BatIVs were also successfully generated and their replication in the susceptible bat cell lines was confirmed. These findings suggest a limited host range and reassortment potential of BatIVs in nature, providing fundamental information for understanding of the ecology of BatIVs.
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31
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Curtis AA, Smith TD, Bhatnagar KP, Brown AM, Simmons NB. Maxilloturbinal Aids in Nasophonation in Horseshoe Bats (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae). Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2018; 303:110-128. [PMID: 30365875 DOI: 10.1002/ar.23999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Horseshoe bats (Family Rhinolophidae) show an impressive array of morphological traits associated with use of high duty cycle echolocation calls that they emit via their nostrils (nasophonation). Delicate maxilloturbinal bones inside the nasal fossa of horseshoe bats have a unique elongated strand-like shape unknown in other mammals. Maxilloturbinal strands also vary considerably in length and cross-sectional shape. In other mammals, maxilloturbinals help direct respired air and prevent respiratory heat and water loss. We investigated whether strand-shaped maxilloturbinals in horseshoe bats perform a similar function to those of other mammals, or whether they were shaped for a role in nasophonation. Using histology, we studied the mucosa of the nasal fossa in Rhinolophus lepidus, which we compared with Hipposideros lankadiva (Hipposideridae) and Megaderma lyra (Megadermatidae). Using micro-CT scans of 30 horseshoe bat species, we quantified maxilloturbinal surface area and skull shape within a phylogenetic context. Histological results showed horseshoe bat maxilloturbinals are covered in a thin, poorly vascularized, sparsely ciliated mucosa poorly suited for preventing respiratory heat and water loss. Maxilloturbinal surface area was correlated with basicranial width, but exceptionally long and dorsoventrally flat maxilloturbinals did not show enhanced surface area for heat and moisture exchange. Skull shape variation appears to be driven by structures linked to nasophonation, including maxilloturbinals. Resting echolocation call frequency better predicted skull shape than did skull size, and was specifically correlated with dimensions of the rostral inflations, palate, and maxilloturbinals. These traits appear to form a morphological complex, indicating a nasophonatory role for the strand-shaped rhinolophid maxilloturbinals. Anat Rec, 2018. © 2018 American Association for Anatomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail A Curtis
- Department of Biology and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.,Department of Mammalogy, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York
| | - Timothy D Smith
- Department of Physical Therapy, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
| | - Kunwar P Bhatnagar
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Alexis M Brown
- Department of Mammalogy, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York
| | - Nancy B Simmons
- Department of Mammalogy, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York
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32
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Vesterinen EJ, Puisto AIE, Blomberg AS, Lilley TM. Table for five, please: Dietary partitioning in boreal bats. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:10914-10937. [PMID: 30519417 PMCID: PMC6262732 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Differences in diet can explain resource partitioning in apparently similar, sympatric species. Here, we analyzed 1,252 fecal droppings from five species (Eptesicus nilssonii, Myotis brandtii, M. daubentonii, M. mystacinus, and Plecotus auritus) to reveal their dietary niches using fecal DNA metabarcoding. We identified nearly 550 prey species in 13 arthropod orders. Two main orders (Diptera and Lepidoptera) formed the majority of the diet for all species, constituting roughly 80%-90% of the diet. All five species had different dietary assemblages. We also found significant differences in the size of prey species between the bat species. Our results on diet composition remain mostly unchanged when using either read counts as a proxy for quantitative diet or presence-absence data, indicating a strong biological pattern. We conclude that although bats share major components in their ecology (nocturnal life style, insectivory, and echolocation), species differ in feeding behavior, suggesting bats may have distinctive evolutionary strategies. Diet analysis helps illuminate life history traits of various species, adding to sparse ecological knowledge, which can be utilized in conservation planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eero J. Vesterinen
- Biodiversity UnitUniversity of TurkuTurkuFinland
- Department of Agricultural SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | | | - Anna S. Blomberg
- Biodiversity UnitUniversity of TurkuTurkuFinland
- Department of BiologyUniversity of TurkuTurkuFinland
| | - Thomas M. Lilley
- Institute of Integrative BiologyUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
- Finnish Museum of Natural HistoryUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
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33
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Rodríguez FE, Sandoval MT, Álvarez BB, Lombardo DM. Comparative Study of Prenatal Development Between Myotis albescens
(Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) and Eumops patagonicus
(Chiroptera: Molossidae): The Chorionic Vesicle and Extraembryonic Membranes Considerations. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2018; 301:1527-1543. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.23896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Revised: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Evelyn Rodríguez
- Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Departamento de Biología; Avenida Libertad, Corrientes Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET); Argentina
| | - María Teresa Sandoval
- Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Departamento de Biología; Avenida Libertad, Corrientes Argentina
| | - Blanca Beatriz Álvarez
- Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Departamento de Biología; Avenida Libertad, Corrientes Argentina
| | - Daniel Marcelo Lombardo
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal (INITRA), Cátedra de Histología y Embriología; Chorroain, Buenos Aires Argentina
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Jung K, Threlfall CG. Trait-dependent tolerance of bats to urbanization: a global meta-analysis. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20181222. [PMID: 30135163 PMCID: PMC6125892 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Urbanization is a severe threat to global biodiversity, often leading to taxonomic and functional homogenization. However, current urban ecology research has focused mostly on urban birds and plants, limiting our ability to make generalizations about the drivers of urban biodiversity globally. To address this gap, we conducted a global meta-analysis of 87 studies, including 180 bat species (Chiroptera) from urban areas in Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America. We aimed to (i) understand the importance of functional traits and phylogeny in driving changes in urban bat assemblages, and (ii) assess the capacity of traits for predicting which types of species are most sensitive to urbanization. Our results indicate that species-specific functional traits explain differences in the intensity of urban habitat use. Urban tolerance mainly occurred within the open and edge space foraging and trawling species as well as in bats with flexible roosting strategies. In addition, across bioregions and independent of phylogeny, urban tolerance correlated with higher aspect ratio, a trait enabling fast flight but less agile manoeuvres during aerial food acquisition. Predictive success varied between bioregions, between 43 and 83%. Our analysis demonstrates that the local extinction of bat species in urban areas is non-random, trait-based and predictable, allowing urban landscape managers to tailor local conservation actions to particular types of species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Jung
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Caragh Grace Threlfall
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
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35
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Zhang L, Sun K, Liu T, Zhao H, Csorba G, Jin L, Thong VD, Feng J. Multilocus phylogeny and species delimitation within the philippinensis
group (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae). ZOOL SCR 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization; Northeast Normal University; Changchun China
| | - Keping Sun
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization; Northeast Normal University; Changchun China
| | - Tong Liu
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization; Northeast Normal University; Changchun China
| | - Hanbo Zhao
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization; Northeast Normal University; Changchun China
| | - Gábor Csorba
- Department of Zoology; Hungarian Natural History Museum; Budapest Hungary
| | - Longru Jin
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization; Northeast Normal University; Changchun China
| | - Vu Dinh Thong
- Graduate University of Science and Technology; Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology; Hanoi Vietnam
- Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources; Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology; Hanoi Vietnam
| | - Jiang Feng
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization; Northeast Normal University; Changchun China
- Jilin Agricultural University; Changchun China
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36
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Abstract
Conservation biology aims to identify species most at risk of extinction and to understand factors that forecast species vulnerability. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List is a leading source for extinction risk data of species globally, however, many potentially at risk species are not assessed by the IUCN owing to inadequate data. Of the approximately 1150 bat species (Chiroptera) recognized by the IUCN, 17 percent are categorized as Data Deficient. Here, we show that large trait databases in combination with a comprehensive phylogeny can identify which traits are important for assessing extinction risk in bats. Using phylogenetic logistic regressions, we show that geographic range and island endemism are the strongest correlates of binary extinction risk. We also show that simulations using two models that trade-off between data complexity and data coverage provide similar estimates of extinction risk for species that have received a Red List assessment. We then use our model parameters to provide quantitative predictions of extinction risk for 60 species that have not received risk assessments by the IUCN. Our model suggests that at least 20 bat species should be treated as threatened by extinction. In combination with expert knowledge, our results can be used as a quick, first-pass prioritization for conservation action.
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A synthesis of ecological and evolutionary determinants of bat diversity across spatial scales. BMC Ecol 2018; 18:18. [PMID: 29890975 PMCID: PMC5996565 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-018-0174-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Diversity patterns result from ecological to evolutionary processes operating at different spatial and temporal scales. Species trait variation determine the spatial scales at which organisms perceive the environment. Despite this knowledge, the coupling of all these factors to understand how diversity is structured is still deficient. Here, we review the role of ecological and evolutionary processes operating across different hierarchically spatial scales to shape diversity patterns of bats—the second largest mammal order and the only mammals with real flight capability. Main body We observed that flight development and its provision of increased dispersal ability influenced the diversification, life history, geographic distribution, and local interspecific interactions of bats, differently across multiple spatial scales. Niche packing combined with different flight, foraging and echolocation strategies and differential use of air space allowed the coexistence among bats as well as for an increased diversity supported by the environment. Considering distinct bat species distributions across space due to their functional characteristics, we assert that understanding such characteristics in Chiroptera improves the knowledge on ecological processes at different scales. We also point two main knowledge gaps that limit progress on the knowledge on scale-dependence of ecological and evolutionary processes in bats: a geographical bias, showing that research on bats is mainly done in the New World; and the lack of studies addressing the mesoscale (i.e. landscape and metacommunity scales). Conclusions We propose that it is essential to couple spatial scales and different zoogeographical regions along with their functional traits, to address bat diversity patterns and understand how they are distributed across the environment. Understanding how bats perceive space is a complex task: all bats can fly, but their perception of space varies with their biological traits. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12898-018-0174-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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38
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Fleischauer M, Böcker S. BCD Beam Search: considering suboptimal partial solutions in Bad Clade Deletion supertrees. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4987. [PMID: 29900080 PMCID: PMC5995099 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Supertree methods enable the reconstruction of large phylogenies. The supertree problem can be formalized in different ways in order to cope with contradictory information in the input. Some supertree methods are based on encoding the input trees in a matrix; other methods try to find minimum cuts in some graph. Recently, we introduced Bad Clade Deletion (BCD) supertrees which combines the graph-based computation of minimum cuts with optimizing a global objective function on the matrix representation of the input trees. The BCD supertree method has guaranteed polynomial running time and is very swift in practice. The quality of reconstructed supertrees was superior to matrix representation with parsimony (MRP) and usually on par with SuperFine for simulated data; but particularly for biological data, quality of BCD supertrees could not keep up with SuperFine supertrees. Here, we present a beam search extension for the BCD algorithm that keeps alive a constant number of partial solutions in each top-down iteration phase. The guaranteed worst-case running time of the new algorithm is still polynomial in the size of the input. We present an exact and a randomized subroutine to generate suboptimal partial solutions. Both beam search approaches consistently improve supertree quality on all evaluated datasets when keeping 25 suboptimal solutions alive. Supertree quality of the BCD Beam Search algorithm is on par with MRP and SuperFine even for biological data. This is the best performance of a polynomial-time supertree algorithm reported so far.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sebastian Böcker
- Chair for Bioinformatics, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
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39
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Gomes AJB, Nagamachi CY, Rodrigues LRR, Ferguson-Smith MA, Yang F, O'Brien PCM, Pieczarka JC. Chromosomal evolution and phylogeny in the Nullicauda group (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae): evidence from multidirectional chromosome painting. BMC Evol Biol 2018; 18:62. [PMID: 29699485 PMCID: PMC5921544 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-018-1176-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The family Phyllostomidae (Chiroptera) shows wide morphological, molecular and cytogenetic variation; many disagreements regarding its phylogeny and taxonomy remains to be resolved. In this study, we use chromosome painting with whole chromosome probes from the Phyllostomidae Phyllostomus hastatus and Carollia brevicauda to determine the rearrangements among several genera of the Nullicauda group (subfamilies Gliphonycterinae, Carolliinae, Rhinophyllinae and Stenodermatinae). RESULTS These data, when compared with previously published chromosome homology maps, allow the construction of a phylogeny comparable to those previously obtained by morphological and molecular analysis. Our phylogeny is largely in agreement with that proposed with molecular data, both on relationships between the subfamilies and among genera; it confirms, for instance, that Carollia and Rhinophylla, previously considered as part of the same subfamily are, in fact, distant genera. CONCLUSIONS The occurrence of the karyotype considered ancestral for this family in several different branches suggests that the diversification of Phyllostomidae into many subfamilies has occurred in a short period of time. Finally, the comparison with published maps using human whole chromosome probes allows us to track some syntenic associations prior to the emergence of this family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anderson José Baia Gomes
- Laboratório de Citogenética, CEABIO, ICB, Universidade Federal do Pará, Av. Bernardo Sayão, sn. Guamá, Belém, Pará, 66075-900, Brazil.,Instituto Federal do Pará, Abaetetuba, Pará, Brazil
| | - Cleusa Yoshiko Nagamachi
- Laboratório de Citogenética, CEABIO, ICB, Universidade Federal do Pará, Av. Bernardo Sayão, sn. Guamá, Belém, Pará, 66075-900, Brazil.,CNPQ Researcher, Brasilia, Brazil
| | | | - Malcolm Andrew Ferguson-Smith
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Cambridge Resource Centre for Comparative Genomics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fengtang Yang
- Cytogenetics Facility, Welcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Patricia Caroline Mary O'Brien
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Cambridge Resource Centre for Comparative Genomics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Julio Cesar Pieczarka
- Laboratório de Citogenética, CEABIO, ICB, Universidade Federal do Pará, Av. Bernardo Sayão, sn. Guamá, Belém, Pará, 66075-900, Brazil. .,CNPQ Researcher, Brasilia, Brazil.
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40
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Giménez AL, Giannini NP. The endemic Patagonian vespertilionid assemblage is a depauperate ecomorphological vicariant of species-rich neotropical assemblages. Curr Zool 2018; 63:495-505. [PMID: 29492009 PMCID: PMC5804208 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zow100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Vespertilionidae is the most diverse chiropteran family, and its diversity is concentrated in warm regions of the World; however, due to physiological and behavioral adaptations, these bats also dominate bat faunas in temperate regions. Here we performed a comparative study of vespertilionid assemblages from two broad regions of the New World, the cold and harsh Patagonia, versus the remaining temperate-to-subtropical, extra-Patagonian eco-regions of the South American Southern Cone. We took an ecomorphological approach and analyzed the craniodental morphological structure of these assemblages within a phylogenetic framework. We measured 17 craniodental linear variables from 447 specimens of 22 currently recognized vespertilionid species of the study regions. We performed a multivariate analysis to define the morphofunctional space, and calculated the pattern and degree of species packing for each assemblage. We assessed the importance of phylogeny and biogeography, and their impact on depauperate (Patagonian) versus rich (extra-Patagonian) vespertilionid assemblages as determinants of morphospace structuring. We implemented a sensitivity analysis associated to small samples of rare species. The morphological patterns were determined chiefly by the evolutionary history of the family. The Patagonian assemblage can be described as a structurally similar but comparatively depauperate ecomorphological version of those assemblages from neighboring extra-Patagonian eco-regions. The Patagonian assemblage seems to have formed by successively adding populations from Northern regions that eventually speciated in the region, leaving corresponding sisters (vicariants) in extra-Patagonian eco-regions that continued to be characteristically richer. Despite being structurally akin, degree of species packing in Patagonia was comparatively very low, which may reflect the effect of limited dispersal success into a harsh region for bat survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Analía L Giménez
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónicas (CIEMEP, CONICET-UNPSJB), Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Evolución y Biodiversidad (LIEB), Roca 780, Esquel, Chubut, CP 9200, Argentina
| | - Norberto P Giannini
- Unidad Ejecutora Lillo, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Fundación Miguel Lillo, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
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41
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Rocha R, Ovaskainen O, López-Baucells A, Farneda FZ, Sampaio EM, Bobrowiec PED, Cabeza M, Palmeirim JM, Meyer CFJ. Secondary forest regeneration benefits old-growth specialist bats in a fragmented tropical landscape. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3819. [PMID: 29491428 PMCID: PMC5830632 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21999-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropical forest loss and fragmentation are due to increase in coming decades. Understanding how matrix dynamics, especially secondary forest regrowth, can lessen fragmentation impacts is key to understanding species persistence in modified landscapes. Here, we use a whole-ecosystem fragmentation experiment to investigate how bat assemblages are influenced by the regeneration of the secondary forest matrix. We surveyed bats in continuous forest, forest fragments and secondary forest matrix habitats, ~15 and ~30 years after forest clearance, to investigate temporal changes in the occupancy and abundance of old-growth specialist and habitat generalist species. The regeneration of the second growth matrix had overall positive effects on the occupancy and abundance of specialists across all sampled habitats. Conversely, effects on generalist species were negligible for forest fragments and negative for secondary forest. Our results show that the conservation potential of secondary forests for reverting faunal declines in fragmented tropical landscapes increases with secondary forest age and that old-growth specialists, which are often of most conservation concern, are the greatest beneficiaries of secondary forest maturation. Our findings emphasize that the transposition of patterns of biodiversity persistence in island ecosystems to fragmented terrestrial settings can be hampered by the dynamic nature of human-dominated landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Rocha
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes - cE3c, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, 69011-970, Manaus, Brazil.
- Metapopulation Research Centre, Faculty of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Otso Ovaskainen
- Metapopulation Research Centre, Faculty of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Adrià López-Baucells
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes - cE3c, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, 69011-970, Manaus, Brazil
- Granollers Museum of Natural Sciences, 08402, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Fábio Z Farneda
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes - cE3c, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, 69011-970, Manaus, Brazil
- Department of Ecology/PPGE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 21941-901, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Erica M Sampaio
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, 69011-970, Manaus, Brazil
- University of Ulm, Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, 89069, Ulm, Germany
| | - Paulo E D Bobrowiec
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, 69011-970, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Mar Cabeza
- Metapopulation Research Centre, Faculty of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jorge M Palmeirim
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes - cE3c, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, 69011-970, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Christoph F J Meyer
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes - cE3c, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, 69011-970, Manaus, Brazil
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre (EERC), School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, United Kingdom
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42
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Giménez AL, Giannini NP. Ecomorphological Diversity in the Patagonian Assemblage of Bats from Argentina. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2017. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2017.19.2.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Analía Laura Giménez
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB), Roca 780, 9200, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Norberto Pedro Giannini
- Unidad Ejecutora Lillo, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Fundación Miguel Lillo, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Miguel Lillo 205, 4000, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
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Webber QMR, Fletcher QE, Willis CKR. Viral Richness is Positively Related to Group Size, but Not Mating System, in Bats. ECOHEALTH 2017; 14:652-661. [PMID: 29030788 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-017-1276-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Revised: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Characterizing host traits that influence viral richness and diversification is important for understanding wildlife pathogens affecting conservation and/or human health. Behaviors that affect contact rates among hosts could be important for viral diversification because more frequent intra- and inter-specific contacts among hosts should increase the potential for viral diversification within host populations. We used published data on bats to test the contact-rate hypothesis. We predicted that species forming large conspecific groups, that share their range with more heterospecifics (i.e., sympatry), and with mating systems characterized by high contact rates (polygynandry: multi-male/multi-female), would host higher viral richness than species with small group sizes, lower sympatry, or low contact-rate mating systems (polygyny: single male/multi-female). Consistent with our hypothesis and previous research, viral richness was positively correlated with conspecific group size although the relationship plateaued at group sizes of approximately several hundred thousand bats. This pattern supports epidemiological theory that, up to a point, larger groups have higher contact rates, greater likelihood of acquiring and transmitting viruses, and ultimately greater potential for viral diversification. However, contrary to our hypothesis, there was no effect of sympatry on viral richness and no difference in viral richness between mating systems. We also found no residual effect of host phylogeny on viral richness, suggesting that closely related species do not necessarily host similar numbers of viruses. Our results support the contact-rate hypothesis that intra-specific viral transmission can enhance viral diversification within species and highlight the influence of host group size on the potential of viruses to propagate within host populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quinn M R Webber
- Department of Biology and Centre for Forest Interdisciplinary Research (C-FIR), University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology (CABE) Interdisciplinary Program, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada.
| | - Quinn E Fletcher
- Department of Biology and Centre for Forest Interdisciplinary Research (C-FIR), University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Craig K R Willis
- Department of Biology and Centre for Forest Interdisciplinary Research (C-FIR), University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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44
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Carpenè E, Andreani G, Isani G. Trace elements in unconventional animals: A 40-year experience. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2017; 43:169-179. [PMID: 28215718 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2017.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Revised: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The role of trace elements in animal health has attracted increasing interest in recent years. The essentiality and toxicity of these elements have been extensively investigated in humans, laboratory animal models and partially in domestic animals, whereas little is known about trace element metabolism in most living organisms. Forty years ago our research started on Cd metabolism in molluscs, thereafter expanding to Zn, Cu, and Fe metabolism in many unconventional animal species of veterinary interest. This review summarizes the main results obtained over this long period of time: some of the findings are original and have not been published to date. They are discussed in more detail and compared with data obtained in conventional animals, including man.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Carpenè
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Andreani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gloria Isani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy.
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45
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van der Mescht L, Warburton EM, Khokhlova IS, Vinarski MV, Korallo-Vinarskaya NP, Krasnov BR. Relationships among different facets of host specificity in three taxa of haematophagous ectoparasites. Int J Parasitol 2017; 47:961-969. [PMID: 28789836 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Host specificity is a fundamental trait of a parasite species. Recently, multiple aspects of host specificity have been recognized, but the relationships between these facets are still poorly understood. Here, we studied pairwise relationships between basic, structural, phylogenetic and geographic host specificity in three taxa of haematophagous ectoparasitic arthropods that differ in tightness of their association with the host. We asked which metrics of host specificity are correlated within each parasite taxon and whether the patterns of the association between different facets of host specificity are similar among parasite taxa. Data on bat flies were taken from published surveys across the Neotropics while data on fleas and mites parasitic on small mammals were compiled from multiple published surveys across the Palaearctic. Basic, structural, phylogenetic and geographic specificity indices were calculated for 18 bat fly species recorded on 40 host species from 15 regions, 109 flea species recorded on 120 host species from 51 regions and 34 mite species recorded on 67 host species from 28 regions. Then, we tested for the correlation between any two measures of host specificity using model II regressions. We found that structural and basic specificity, as well as structural and geographic specificity, exhibited a positive association in all three taxa. However, basic and geographic specificity, as well as basic and phylogenetic specificity, were significantly positively associated in fleas but did not correlate in bat flies or mites. In addition, we found a significant negative association between structural and phylogenetic specificity in bat flies but no association in the remaining taxa. Moreover, geographic and phylogenetic specificity were not associated in any parasite taxon. Our results suggest that different facets of host specificity were shaped differently by natural selection in different taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luther van der Mescht
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Swiss Institute of Dryland Environmental and Energy Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede-Boqer Campus, 84990 Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel; Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, French Associates Institute for Agriculture, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede-Boqer Campus, 84990 Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel.
| | - Elizabeth M Warburton
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Swiss Institute of Dryland Environmental and Energy Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede-Boqer Campus, 84990 Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Irina S Khokhlova
- Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, French Associates Institute for Agriculture, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede-Boqer Campus, 84990 Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Maxim V Vinarski
- Omsk State University, 28 Adrianova Str., Omsk 644077, Russian Federation; Saint-Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya Emb., Saint-Petersburg 199034, Russian Federation
| | - Natalia P Korallo-Vinarskaya
- Laboratory of Arthropod-Borne Viral Infections, Omsk Research Institute of Natural Foci Infections, 7 Mira Str., Omsk 644080, Russian Federation; Omsk State Pedagogical University, 14 Tukhachevskogo Emb., Omsk 644099, Russian Federation
| | - Boris R Krasnov
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Swiss Institute of Dryland Environmental and Energy Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede-Boqer Campus, 84990 Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
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46
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Evolution and Antiviral Specificities of Interferon-Induced Mx Proteins of Bats against Ebola, Influenza, and Other RNA Viruses. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.00361-17. [PMID: 28490593 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00361-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Bats serve as a reservoir for various, often zoonotic viruses, including significant human pathogens such as Ebola and influenza viruses. However, for unknown reasons, viral infections rarely cause clinical symptoms in bats. A tight control of viral replication by the host innate immune defense might contribute to this phenomenon. Transcriptomic studies revealed the presence of the interferon-induced antiviral myxovirus resistance (Mx) proteins in bats, but detailed functional aspects have not been assessed. To provide evidence that bat Mx proteins might act as key factors to control viral replication we cloned Mx1 cDNAs from three bat families, Pteropodidae, Phyllostomidae, and Vespertilionidae. Phylogenetically these bat Mx1 genes cluster closely with their human ortholog MxA. Using transfected cell cultures, minireplicon systems, virus-like particles, and virus infections, we determined the antiviral potential of the bat Mx1 proteins. Bat Mx1 significantly reduced the polymerase activity of viruses circulating in bats, including Ebola and influenza A-like viruses. The related Thogoto virus, however, which is not known to infect bats, was not inhibited by bat Mx1. Further, we provide evidence for positive selection in bat Mx1 genes that might explain species-specific antiviral activities of these proteins. Together, our data suggest a role for Mx1 in controlling these viruses in their bat hosts.IMPORTANCE Bats are a natural reservoir for various viruses that rarely cause clinical symptoms in bats but are dangerous zoonotic pathogens, like Ebola or rabies virus. It has been hypothesized that the interferon system might play a key role in controlling viral replication in bats. We speculate that the interferon-induced Mx proteins might be key antiviral factors of bats and have coevolved with bat-borne viruses. This study evaluated for the first time a large set of bat Mx1 proteins spanning three major bat families for their antiviral potential, including activity against Ebola virus and bat influenza A-like virus, and we describe here their phylogenetic relationship, revealing patterns of positive selection that suggest a coevolution with viral pathogens. By understanding the molecular mechanisms of the innate resistance of bats against viral diseases, we might gain important insights into how to prevent and fight human zoonotic infections caused by bat-borne viruses.
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Alves DMCC, Diniz-Filho JAF, Villalobos F. Geographical diversification and the effect of model and data inadequacies: the bat diversity gradient as a case study. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blx030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Feijoo M, Parada A. Macrosystematics of eutherian mammals combining HTS data to expand taxon coverage. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2017; 113:76-83. [PMID: 28487261 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2017.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Revised: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
In the last few years high-throughput sequencing technologies have permitted significant advances in mammalian phylogenetic studies from a genomic perspective. However, these studies have been restricted to a sparse number of species with available reference genomes. Thus, several issues inside the eutherian mammals phylogeny remain unresolved. This may be due in part to limited taxon sampling, as taxonomic density is known to affect phylogenetic resolution. In this context, we present a protocol to increase taxon coverage using high-throughput sequencing data (RNA or DNA) generated for other biological studies and available in public databases. Following this procedure we addressed pending or controversial issues concerning the phylogenetic position of Dermoptera, Pholidota and Chiroptera, considering multiple and independent loci. Also for Chiroptera and Arctoidea we evaluated the relationships of the lineages that compose it. Although the maximum number of genes used is moderate (95), in some cases taxon coverage doubles that of previous related studies. Globally, all coalescent-based (STAR, MP-EST and ASTRAL) and concatenated (IQ-TREE and BEAST2) methods used for species tree reconstruction were consistent to each other and most of interrogated nodes received high statistical support.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Feijoo
- Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo CP 11400, Uruguay.
| | - A Parada
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia CP 5090000, Chile.
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49
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Samuels ME, Regnault S, Hutchinson JR. Evolution of the patellar sesamoid bone in mammals. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3103. [PMID: 28344905 PMCID: PMC5363259 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The patella is a sesamoid bone located in the major extensor tendon of the knee joint, in the hindlimb of many tetrapods. Although numerous aspects of knee morphology are ancient and conserved among most tetrapods, the evolutionary occurrence of an ossified patella is highly variable. Among extant (crown clade) groups it is found in most birds, most lizards, the monotreme mammals and almost all placental mammals, but it is absent in most marsupial mammals as well as many reptiles. Here, we integrate data from the literature and first-hand studies of fossil and recent skeletal remains to reconstruct the evolution of the mammalian patella. We infer that bony patellae most likely evolved between four and six times in crown group Mammalia: in monotremes, in the extinct multituberculates, in one or more stem-mammal genera outside of therian or eutherian mammals and up to three times in therian mammals. Furthermore, an ossified patella was lost several times in mammals, not including those with absent hindlimbs: once or more in marsupials (with some re-acquisition) and at least once in bats. Our inferences about patellar evolution in mammals are reciprocally informed by the existence of several human genetic conditions in which the patella is either absent or severely reduced. Clearly, development of the patella is under close genomic control, although its responsiveness to its mechanical environment is also important (and perhaps variable among taxa). Where a bony patella is present it plays an important role in hindlimb function, especially in resisting gravity by providing an enhanced lever system for the knee joint. Yet the evolutionary origins, persistence and modifications of a patella in diverse groups with widely varying habits and habitats-from digging to running to aquatic, small or large body sizes, bipeds or quadrupeds-remain complex and perplexing, impeding a conclusive synthesis of form, function, development and genetics across mammalian evolution. This meta-analysis takes an initial step toward such a synthesis by collating available data and elucidating areas of promising future inquiry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark E. Samuels
- Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU Ste-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sophie Regnault
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Structure and Motion Laboratory, The Royal Veterinary College, London Hertfordshire, UK
| | - John R. Hutchinson
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Structure and Motion Laboratory, The Royal Veterinary College, London Hertfordshire, UK
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50
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Curtis AA, Simmons NB. Unique Turbinal Morphology in Horseshoe Bats (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae). Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2016; 300:309-325. [PMID: 27863117 DOI: 10.1002/ar.23516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Revised: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian nasal fossa contains a set of delicate and often structurally complex bones called turbinals. Turbinals and associated mucosae function in regulating respiratory heat and water loss, increasing surface area for olfactory tissue, and directing airflow within the nasal fossa. We used high-resolution micro-CT scanning to investigate a unique maxilloturbinal morphology in 37 species from the bat family Rhinolophidae, which we compared with those of families Hipposideridae, Megadermatidae, and Pteropodidae. Rhinolophids exhibit numerous structural modifications along the nasopharyngeal tract associated with emission of high duty cycle echolocation calls via the nostrils. In rhinolophids, we found that the maxilloturbinals and a portion of ethmoturbinal I form a pair of strand-like bony structures on each side of the nasal chamber. These structures project anteriorly from the transverse lamina and complete a hairpin turn to project posteriorly down the nasopharyngeal duct, and vary in length among species. The strand-like maxilloturbinals in Rhinolophidae were not observed in our outgroups and represent a synapomorphy for this family, and are unique in form among mammals. Within Rhinolophidae, maxilloturbinal size and cross-sectional shape were correlated with phylogeny. We hypothesize that strand-shaped maxilloturbinals may function to reduce respiratory heat and water loss without greatly impacting echolocation call transmission since they provide increased mucosal surface area for heat and moisture exchange but occupy minimal space. Alternatively, they may play a role in transmission of echolocation calls since they are located directly along the path sound travels between the larynx and nostrils during call emission. Anat Rec, 300:309-325, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail A Curtis
- Department of Mammalogy, Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, 10024
| | - Nancy B Simmons
- Department of Mammalogy, Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, 10024
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