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Lopes PC, Faber-Hammond JJ, Siemonsma C, Patel S, Renn SCP. The social environment alters neural responses to a lipopolysaccharide challenge. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 110:162-174. [PMID: 36878331 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sick animals display drastic changes in their behavioral patterns, including decreased activity, decreased food and water intake, and decreased interest in social interactions. These behaviors, collectively called "sickness behaviors", can be socially modulated. For example, when provided with mating opportunities, males of several species show reduced sickness behaviors. While the behavior is known to change, how the social environment affects neural molecular responses to sickness is not known. Here, we used a species, the zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata, where males have been shown to decrease sickness behaviors when presented with novel females. Using this paradigm, we obtained samples from three brain regions (the hypothalamus, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and the nucleus taeniae) from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or control treated males housed under four different social environments. Manipulation of the social environment rapidly changed the strength and co-expression patterns of the neural molecular responses to the immune challenge in all brain regions tested, therefore suggesting that the social environment plays a significant role in determining the neural responses to an infection. In particular, brains of males paired with a novel female showed muted immune responses to LPS, as well as altered synaptic signaling. Neural metabolic activity in response to the LPS challenge was also affected by the social environment. Our results provide new insights into the effects of the social environment on brain responses to an infection, thereby improving our understanding of how the social environment can affect health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia C Lopes
- Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA.
| | | | - Chandler Siemonsma
- Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Sachin Patel
- Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Suzy C P Renn
- Department of Biology, Reed College, Portland, OR, USA
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2
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Biegler MT, Fedrigo O, Collier P, Mountcastle J, Haase B, Tilgner HU, Jarvis ED. Induction of an immortalized songbird cell line allows for gene characterization and knockout by CRISPR-Cas9. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4369. [PMID: 35288582 PMCID: PMC8921232 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07434-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The zebra finch is one of the most commonly studied songbirds in biology, particularly in genomics, neuroscience and vocal communication. However, this species lacks a robust cell line for molecular biology research and reagent optimization. We generated a cell line, designated CFS414, from zebra finch embryonic fibroblasts using the SV40 large and small T antigens. This cell line demonstrates an improvement over previous songbird cell lines through continuous and density-independent growth, allowing for indefinite culture and monoclonal line derivation. Cytogenetic, genomic, and transcriptomic profiling established the provenance of this cell line and identified the expression of genes relevant to ongoing songbird research. Using this cell line, we disrupted endogenous gene sequences using S.aureus Cas9 and confirmed a stress-dependent localization response of a song system specialized gene, SAP30L. The utility of CFS414 cells enhances the comprehensive molecular potential of the zebra finch and validates cell immortalization strategies in a songbird species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew T Biegler
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics of Language, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
| | - Olivier Fedrigo
- Vertebrate Genome Laboratory, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Paul Collier
- Center for Neurogenetics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weil Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | | | - Bettina Haase
- Vertebrate Genome Laboratory, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Hagen U Tilgner
- Center for Neurogenetics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weil Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Erich D Jarvis
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics of Language, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
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3
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Review of -omics studies on mosquito-borne viruses of the Flavivirus genus. Virus Res 2022; 307:198610. [PMID: 34718046 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2021.198610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Arboviruses are transmitted by arthropods (arthropod-borne virus) which can be mosquitoes or other hematophagous arthropods, in which their life cycle occurs before transmission to other hosts. Arboviruses such as Dengue, Zika, Saint Louis Encephalitis, West Nile, Yellow Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, Rocio and Murray Valley Encephalitis viruses are some of the arboviruses transmitted biologically among vertebrate hosts by blood-taking vectors, mainly Aedes and Culex sp., and are associated with neurological, viscerotropic, and hemorrhagic reemerging diseases, posing as significant health and socioeconomic concern, as they become more and more adaptive to new environments, to arthropods vectors and human hosts. One of the main families that include mosquito-borne viruses is Flaviviridae, and here, we review the case of the Flavivirus genus, which comprises the viruses cited above, using a variety of research approaches published in literature, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc., to better understand their structures as well as virus-host interactions, which are essential for development of future antiviral therapies.
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Kuchinsky SC, Frere F, Heitzman-Breen N, Golden J, Vázquez A, Honaker CF, Siegel PB, Ciupe SM, LeRoith T, Duggal NK. Pathogenesis and shedding of Usutu virus in juvenile chickens. Emerg Microbes Infect 2021; 10:725-738. [PMID: 33769213 PMCID: PMC8043533 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2021.1908850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Usutu virus (USUV; family: Flaviviridae, genus: Flavivirus), is an emerging zoonotic arbovirus that causes severe neuroinvasive disease in humans and has been implicated in the loss of breeding bird populations in Europe. USUV is maintained in an enzootic cycle between ornithophilic mosquitos and wild birds. As a member of the Japanese encephalitis serocomplex, USUV is closely related to West Nile virus (WNV) and St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), both neuroinvasive arboviruses endemic in wild bird populations in the United States. An avian model for USUV is essential to understanding zoonotic transmission. Here we describe the first avian models of USUV infection with the development of viremia. Juvenile commercial ISA Brown chickens were susceptible to infection by multiple USUV strains with evidence of cardiac lesions. Juvenile chickens from two chicken lines selected for high (HAS) or low (LAS) antibody production against sheep red blood cells showed markedly different responses to USUV infection. Morbidity and mortality were observed in the LAS chickens, but not HAS chickens. LAS chickens had significantly higher viral titers in blood and other tissues, as well as oral secretions, and significantly lower development of neutralizing antibody responses compared to HAS chickens. Mathematical modelling of virus-host interactions showed that the viral clearance rate is a stronger mitigating factor for USUV viremia than neutralizing antibody response in this avian model. These chicken models provide a tool for further understanding USUV pathogenesis in birds and evaluating transmission dynamics between avian hosts and mosquito vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Kuchinsky
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Francesca Frere
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Nora Heitzman-Breen
- Department of Mathematics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Jacob Golden
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Ana Vázquez
- National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Epidemiology and Public Health Network of Biomedical Research Centre (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Christa F Honaker
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Paul B Siegel
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Stanca M Ciupe
- Department of Mathematics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Tanya LeRoith
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Nisha K Duggal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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Hofmeister EK, Balakrishnan CN, Atkinson CT. Population Differences in Susceptibility to Plasmodium relictum in Zebra Finches Taeniopygia guttata. Avian Dis 2019; 62:351-354. [PMID: 31119918 DOI: 10.1637/11823-030518-resnote.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Domesticated Australian and Timor zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis and Taeniopygia guttata guttata, respectively) were inoculated with canary (Serinus canaria) blood containing a Hawaiian isolate of Plasmodium relictum (lineage GRW04), a hemoparasite that causes avian malaria. In two experimental trials, TZFs but not AZFs developed parasitemia that was detected by microscopic examination of blood smears. In the second trial, in which molecular detection methods were used, a single AZF and five of six challenged TZFs were positive for the parasite. Additionally, P. relictum DNA was detected in multiple blood samples obtained from TZFs over the 28 days following challenge. TZFs may provide a useful, easily maintained, laboratory model for the study of Plasmodium interactions in passerines but are still inferior to canaries, the traditionally used model of avian malaria infection, in terms of supporting high-parasitemia infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik K Hofmeister
- United States Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI 53711,
| | | | - Carter T Atkinson
- United States Geological Survey, Pacific Islands Ecosystems Research Center, Hawaii National Park, Honolulu, HI 96718
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O'Connor EA, Westerdahl H, Burri R, Edwards SV. Avian MHC Evolution in the Era of Genomics: Phase 1.0. Cells 2019; 8:E1152. [PMID: 31561531 PMCID: PMC6829271 DOI: 10.3390/cells8101152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Birds are a wonderfully diverse and accessible clade with an exceptional range of ecologies and behaviors, making the study of the avian major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of great interest. In the last 20 years, particularly with the advent of high-throughput sequencing, the avian MHC has been explored in great depth in several dimensions: its ability to explain ecological patterns in nature, such as mating preferences; its correlation with parasite resistance; and its structural evolution across the avian tree of life. Here, we review the latest pulse of avian MHC studies spurred by high-throughput sequencing. Despite high-throughput approaches to MHC studies, substantial areas remain in need of improvement with regard to our understanding of MHC structure, diversity, and evolution. Recent studies of the avian MHC have nonetheless revealed intriguing connections between MHC structure and life history traits, and highlight the advantages of long-term ecological studies for understanding the patterns of MHC variation in the wild. Given the exceptional diversity of birds, their accessibility, and the ease of sequencing their genomes, studies of avian MHC promise to improve our understanding of the many dimensions and consequences of MHC variation in nature. However, significant improvements in assembling complete MHC regions with long-read sequencing will be required for truly transformative studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Reto Burri
- Department of Population Ecology, Institute of Ecology & Evolution, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07737 Jena, Germany.
| | - Scott V Edwards
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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Scalf CS, Chariker JH, Rouchka EC, Ashley NT. Transcriptomic analysis of immune response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide in zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). BMC Genomics 2019; 20:647. [PMID: 31412766 PMCID: PMC6693190 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6016-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the convergence of rapid technological advances in genomics and the maturing field of ecoimmunology, our understanding of the genes that regulate immunity in wild populations is still nascent. Previous work to assess immune function has relied upon relatively crude measures of immunocompetence. However, with next-generation RNA-sequencing, it is now possible to create a profile of gene expression in response to an immune challenge. In this study, captive zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata; adult males) were challenged with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or vehicle to stimulate the innate immune system. 2 hours after injection, birds were euthanized and hypothalami, spleen, and red blood cells (RBCs) were collected. Taking advantage of the fully sequenced genome of zebra finch, total RNA was isolated, sequenced, and partially annotated in these tissue/cells. RESULTS In hypothalamus, there were 707 significantly upregulated transcripts, as well as 564 and 144 in the spleen and RBCs, respectively, relative to controls. Also, 155 transcripts in the hypothalamus, 606 in the spleen, and 61 in the RBCs were significantly downregulated. More specifically, a number of immunity-related transcripts (e.g., IL-1β, RSAD2, SOCS3) were upregulated among tissues/cells. Additionally, transcripts involved in metabolic processes (APOD, LRAT, RBP4) were downregulated. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest a potential trade-off in expression of genes that regulate immunity and metabolism in birds challenged with LPS. This finding is consistent with a hypothermic response to LPS treatment in small birds. Unlike mammals, birds have nucleated RBCs, and these results support a novel transcriptomic response of avian RBCs to immune challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra S Scalf
- Department of Biology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, 42101-1800, USA
| | - Julia H Chariker
- Department of Neuroscience Training, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Eric C Rouchka
- Department of Computer Engineering and Computer Science, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Noah T Ashley
- Department of Biology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, 42101-1800, USA.
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Kernbach ME, Newhouse DJ, Miller JM, Hall RJ, Gibbons J, Oberstaller J, Selechnik D, Jiang RHY, Unnasch TR, Balakrishnan CN, Martin LB. Light pollution increases West Nile virus competence of a ubiquitous passerine reservoir species. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20191051. [PMID: 31337318 PMCID: PMC6661335 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the many anthropogenic changes that impact humans and wildlife, one of the most pervasive but least understood is light pollution. Although detrimental physiological and behavioural effects resulting from exposure to light at night are widely appreciated, the impacts of light pollution on infectious disease risk have not been studied. Here, we demonstrate that artificial light at night (ALAN) extends the infectious-to-vector period of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus), an urban-dwelling avian reservoir host of West Nile virus (WNV). Sparrows exposed to ALAN maintained transmissible viral titres for 2 days longer than controls but did not experience greater WNV-induced mortality during this window. Transcriptionally, ALAN altered the expression of gene regulatory networks including key hubs (OASL, PLBD1 and TRAP1) and effector genes known to affect WNV dissemination (SOCS). Despite mounting anti-viral immune responses earlier, transcriptomic signatures indicated that ALAN-exposed individuals probably experienced pathogen-induced damage and immunopathology, potentially due to evasion of immune effectors. A simple mathematical modelling exercise indicated that ALAN-induced increases of host infectious-to-vector period could increase WNV outbreak potential by approximately 41%. ALAN probably affects other host and vector traits relevant to transmission, and additional research is needed to advise the management of zoonotic diseases in light-polluted areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith E. Kernbach
- Center for Global Health Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Daniel J. Newhouse
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Jeanette M. Miller
- Center for Global Health Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Richard J. Hall
- Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Odum School of Ecology and Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Justin Gibbons
- Center for Global Health Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Jenna Oberstaller
- Center for Global Health Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Daniel Selechnik
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES), University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - Rays H. Y. Jiang
- Center for Global Health Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Thomas R. Unnasch
- Center for Global Health Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | | | - Lynn B. Martin
- Center for Global Health Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
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Kernbach ME, Hall RJ, Burkett-Cadena ND, Unnasch TR, Martin LB. Dim light at night: physiological effects and ecological consequences for infectious disease. Integr Comp Biol 2019; 58:995-1007. [PMID: 29939262 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icy080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Light pollution has emerged as a pervasive component of land development over the past century. Several detrimental impacts of this anthropogenic influence have been identified in night shift workers, laboratory rodents, and a plethora of wildlife species. Circadian, or daily, patterns are interrupted by the presence of light at night and have the capacity to alter rhythmic physiological or behavioral characteristics. Indeed, biorhythm disruption can lead to metabolic, reproductive, and immunological dysfunction depending on the intensity, timing, duration, and wavelength of light exposure. Light pollution, in many forms and by many pathways, is thus apt to affect the nature of host-pathogen interactions. However, no research has yet investigated this possibility. The goal of this manuscript is to outline how dim light at night, a relevant and common form of light pollution, may affect disease dynamics by interrupting circadian rhythms and regulation of immune responses as well as opportunities for host-parasite interactions and subsequent transmission risk including spillover into humans. We close by proposing some promising interventions including alternative lighting methods or vector control efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard J Hall
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Thomas R Unnasch
- Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Lynn B Martin
- Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
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Shultz AJ, Sackton TB. Immune genes are hotspots of shared positive selection across birds and mammals. eLife 2019; 8:e41815. [PMID: 30620335 PMCID: PMC6338464 DOI: 10.7554/elife.41815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Consistent patterns of positive selection in functionally similar genes can suggest a common selective pressure across a group of species. We use alignments of orthologous protein-coding genes from 39 species of birds to estimate parameters related to positive selection for 11,000 genes conserved across birds. We show that functional pathways related to the immune system, recombination, lipid metabolism, and phototransduction are enriched for positively selected genes. By comparing our results with mammalian data, we find a significant enrichment for positively selected genes shared between taxa, and that these shared selected genes are enriched for viral immune pathways. Using pathogen-challenge transcriptome data, we show that genes up-regulated in response to pathogens are also enriched for positively selected genes. Together, our results suggest that pathogens, particularly viruses, consistently target the same genes across divergent clades, and that these genes are hotspots of host-pathogen conflict over deep evolutionary time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison J Shultz
- Informatics GroupHarvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary BiologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- Museum of Comparative ZoologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
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