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Lizza JP, Lazaridis C, Nowak PG. Defining Death: Toward a Biological and Ethical Synthesis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2024:1-12. [PMID: 39018166 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2024.2371124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Much of the debate over the definition and criteria for determining our death has focused on disagreement over the correct biological account of death, i.e., what it means for any organism to die. In this paper, we argue that this exclusive focus on the biology of death is misguided, because it ignores ethical and social factors that bear on the acceptability of criteria for determining our death. We propose that attention shift from strictly biological considerations to ethical and social considerations that bear on the determination of what we call "civil death." We argue for acceptance of a neurological criterion for determining death on grounds that it is the most reasonable way to synthesize biological, ethical, and social considerations about our death..
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2
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Gilbert SF. Inter-kingdom communication and the sympoietic way of life. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1427798. [PMID: 39071805 PMCID: PMC11275584 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1427798] [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: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Organisms are now seen as holobionts, consortia of several species that interact metabolically such that they sustain and scaffold each other's existence and propagation. Sympoiesis, the development of the symbiotic relationships that form holobionts, is critical for our understanding the origins and maintenance of biodiversity. Rather than being the read-out of a single genome, development has been found to be sympoietic, based on multigenomic interactions between zygote-derived cells and symbiotic microbes. These symbiotic and sympoietic interactions are predicated on the ability of cells from different kingdoms of life (e.g., bacteria and animals) to communicate with one another and to have their chemical signals interpreted in a manner that facilitates development. Sympoiesis, the creation of an entity by the interactions of other entities, is commonly seen in embryogenesis (e.g., the creation of lenses and retinas through the interaction of brain and epidermal compartments). In holobiont sympoiesis, interactions between partners of different domains of life interact to form organs and biofilms, wherein each of these domains acts as the environment for the other. If evolution is forged by changes in development, and if symbionts are routinely involved in our development, then changes in sympoiesis can constitute an important factor in evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott F. Gilbert
- Department of Biology, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA, United States
- Evolutionary Phenomics Group, Biotechnology Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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3
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Nowak PG. Death as the extinction of the source of value: the constructivist theory of death as an irreversible loss of moral status. THEORETICAL MEDICINE AND BIOETHICS 2024; 45:109-131. [PMID: 38332427 PMCID: PMC10959770 DOI: 10.1007/s11017-023-09656-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
In 2017, Michael Nair-Collins formulated his Transitivity Argument which claimed that brain-dead patients are alive according to a concept that defines death in terms of the loss of moral status. This article challenges Nair-Collins' view in three steps. First, I elaborate on the concept of moral status, claiming that to understand this notion appropriately, one must grasp the distinction between direct and indirect duties. Second, I argue that his understanding of moral status implicit in the Transitivity Argument is faulty since it is not based on a distinction between direct and indirect duties. Third, I show how this flaw in Nair-Collins' argument is grounded in the more general problems between preference utilitarianism and desire fulfillment theory. Finally, I present the constructivist theory of moral status and the associated moral concept of death and explain how this concept challenges the Transitivity Argument. According to my view, brain death constitutes a valid criterion of death since brain death is incompatible with the preserved capacity to have affective attitudes and to value anything.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Grzegorz Nowak
- Institute of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, Grodzka 52, 31-044, Kraków, Poland.
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4
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Abstract
Investigation of fungal biology has been frequently motivated by the fact that many fungal species are important plant and animal pathogens. Such efforts have contributed significantly toward our understanding of fungal pathogenic lifestyles (virulence factors and strategies) and the interplay with host immune systems. In parallel, work on fungal allorecognition systems leading to the characterization of fungal regulated cell death determinants and pathways, has been instrumental for the emergent concept of fungal immunity. The uncovered evolutionary trans-kingdom parallels between fungal regulated cell death pathways and innate immune systems incite us to reflect further on the concept of a fungal immune system. Here, I briefly review key findings that have shaped the fungal immunity paradigm, providing a perspective on what I consider its most glaring knowledge gaps. Undertaking to fill such gaps would establish firmly the fungal immune system inside the broader field of comparative immunology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asen Daskalov
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- ImmunoConcEpT, CNRS UMR 5164, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
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5
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Clawson WP, Levin M. Endless forms most beautiful 2.0: teleonomy and the bioengineering of chimaeric and synthetic organisms. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blac073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The rich variety of biological forms and behaviours results from one evolutionary history on Earth, via frozen accidents and selection in specific environments. This ubiquitous baggage in natural, familiar model species obscures the plasticity and swarm intelligence of cellular collectives. Significant gaps exist in our understanding of the origin of anatomical novelty, of the relationship between genome and form, and of strategies for control of large-scale structure and function in regenerative medicine and bioengineering. Analysis of living forms that have never existed before is necessary to reveal deep design principles of life as it can be. We briefly review existing examples of chimaeras, cyborgs, hybrots and other beings along the spectrum containing evolved and designed systems. To drive experimental progress in multicellular synthetic morphology, we propose teleonomic (goal-seeking, problem-solving) behaviour in diverse problem spaces as a powerful invariant across possible beings regardless of composition or origin. Cybernetic perspectives on chimaeric morphogenesis erase artificial distinctions established by past limitations of technology and imagination. We suggest that a multi-scale competency architecture facilitates evolution of robust problem-solving, living machines. Creation and analysis of novel living forms will be an essential testbed for the emerging field of diverse intelligence, with numerous implications across regenerative medicine, robotics and ethics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Levin
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University , Medford, MA , USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University , Boston, MA , USA
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6
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Wu D, Chen M, Chen S, Zhang S, Chen Y, Zhao Q, Xue K, Xue F, Chen X, Zhou M, Li H, Zheng J, Le Y, Cao H. Enhanced tryptophan-kynurenine metabolism via indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 induction in dermatomyositis. Clin Rheumatol 2022; 41:3107-3117. [PMID: 35778590 PMCID: PMC9485101 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-022-06263-3] [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: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Extrahepatic tryptophan (Trp)-kynurenine (Kyn) metabolism via indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) induction was found to be associated with intrinsic immune regulation. However, the Trp-Kyn metabolism–associated immune regulation in dermatomyositis (DM) remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the clinical relevance of the Trp-Kyn metabolism via IDO1 induction in DM. Methods Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS) was used to examine the serum Kyn and Trp concentrations in DM. In addition, we used X-tile software to determine the optimal cutoff value of the Kyn/Trp ratio, a surrogate marker for Trp-Kyn metabolism. Spearman analysis was performed to evaluate the association of Trp-Kyn metabolism with muscle enzymes and inflammatory markers. Results DM patients had significantly higher serum Kyn/Trp ratio (× 10−3) when compared with the healthy controls. The serum Kyn/Trp ratio was positively correlated with the levels of muscle enzymes and inflammatory markers. In addition, the serum Kyn/Trp ratio significantly decreased (36.89 (26.00–54.00) vs. 25.00 (18.00–37.00), P = 0.0006) after treatment. DM patients with high serum Kyn/Trp ratio had a significantly higher percentage of muscle weakness symptoms (62.5% vs. 20.0%, P = 0.019) and higher levels of LDH (316.0 (236.0–467.0) vs. 198.0 (144.0–256.0), P = 0.004) and AST (56.5 (35.0–92.2) vs. 23.0 (20.0–36.0), P = 0.002)) than those with low serum Kyn/Trp ratio. Multiple Cox regression analyses identified ln(Kyn/Trp) (HR 4.874, 95% CI 1.105–21.499, P = 0.036) as an independent prognostic predictor of mortality in DM. Conclusions DM patients with enhanced Trp-Kyn metabolism at disease onset are characterized by more severe disease status and poor prognosis. Intrinsic immune regulation function via enhanced Trp-Kyn metabolism by IDO1 induction may be a potential therapeutic target in DM.Key Points • HPLC–MS identified increased serum Kyn/Trp ratio in DM patients, which positively correlated with levels of muscle enzymes and inflammatory markers and was downregulated upon treatment. • Cox regression analyses identified ln(Kyn/Trp) as an independent prognostic predictor of mortality in DM. • Monitoring intrinsic immune regulation function should be considered a potential therapeutic target in DM patients. |
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10067-022-06263-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wu
- Department of Dermatology, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Rui Jin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Mengya Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Rui Jin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Shile Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Rui Jin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Shimin Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Rui Jin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yongheng Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Rui Jin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Qian Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Rui Jin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Ke Xue
- Department of Dermatology, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Rui Jin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Feng Xue
- Department of Dermatology, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Rui Jin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Xiaosong Chen
- Comprehensive Breast Health Center, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Zhou
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Oncology, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Dermatology, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Rui Jin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yunchen Le
- Department of Dermatology, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Rui Jin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Hua Cao
- Department of Dermatology, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Rui Jin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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7
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Nowak PG, Stencel A. How many ways can you die? Multiple biological deaths as a consequence of the multiple concepts of an organism. THEORETICAL MEDICINE AND BIOETHICS 2022; 43:127-154. [PMID: 35859085 PMCID: PMC9477939 DOI: 10.1007/s11017-022-09583-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
According to the mainstream position in the bioethical definition of death debate, death is to be equated with the cessation of an organism. Given such a perspective, some bioethicists uphold the position that brain-dead patients are dead, while others claim that they are alive. Regardless of the specific opinion on the status of brain-dead patients, the mere bioethical concept of death, according to many bioethicists, has the merit of being unanimous and univocal, as well as grounded in biology. In the present article, we challenge such a thesis. We provide evidence that theoretical biology operates with a plurality of equally valid organismic concepts, which imply different conclusions regarding the organismal status of a brain-dead patient. Moreover, the theoretical biology concepts of an organism are very distant from the view on an organism that appears by way of bioethicists theorizing on death. We conclude that if death is to be understood as the cessation of an organism, there is no single correct answer to the question of whether a brain-dead patient is alive or dead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Grzegorz Nowak
- Institute of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, Grodzka 52, 31-044 Kraków, Poland
| | - Adrian Stencel
- Institute of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, Grodzka 52, 31-044 Kraków, Poland
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8
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Bosch S, Mignot G. [Extracellular vesicles are players of the immune continuum]. Med Sci (Paris) 2021; 37:1139-1145. [PMID: 34928218 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2021206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulation of immune responses was among the first functions of extracellular vesicles to be identified, more than twenty years ago. What exactly defines the outcome of an immune response remains a challenging issue. Owing to their reduced size, extracellular vesicles easily diffuse in interstitial and lymphatic fluids, where they can interact with the multiple effectors of the immune system. By accelerating and amplifying immune interactions, these ultra-mobile units may contribute to local and systemic coordination for efficient adaption to external and internal changes. Here we introduce the related ground-breaking studies of extracellular vesicle-mediated immune effects and present ongoing considerations on their potential roles in health and the development of immune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffi Bosch
- Laboratoire d'immuno-endocrinologie cellulaire et moléculaire (IECM), École nationale vétérinaire, agroalimentaire et de l'alimentation de Nantes-Atlantique (ONIRIS), INRAE, USC (unités sous-contrats)1383, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Grégoire Mignot
- Laboratoire d'immuno-endocrinologie cellulaire et moléculaire (IECM), École nationale vétérinaire, agroalimentaire et de l'alimentation de Nantes-Atlantique (ONIRIS), INRAE, USC (unités sous-contrats)1383, 44000 Nantes, France
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9
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Kareva I, Luddy KA, O’Farrelly C, Gatenby RA, Brown JS. Predator-Prey in Tumor-Immune Interactions: A Wrong Model or Just an Incomplete One? Front Immunol 2021; 12:668221. [PMID: 34531851 PMCID: PMC8438324 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.668221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-immune interactions are often framed as predator-prey. This imperfect analogy describes how immune cells (the predators) hunt and kill immunogenic tumor cells (the prey). It allows for evaluation of tumor cell populations that change over time during immunoediting and it also considers how the immune system changes in response to these alterations. However, two aspects of predator-prey type models are not typically observed in immuno-oncology. The first concerns the conversion of prey killed into predator biomass. In standard predator-prey models, the predator relies on the prey for nutrients, while in the tumor microenvironment the predator and prey compete for resources (e.g. glucose). The second concerns oscillatory dynamics. Standard predator-prey models can show a perpetual cycling in both prey and predator population sizes, while in oncology we see increases in tumor volume and decreases in infiltrating immune cell populations. Here we discuss the applicability of predator-prey models in the context of cancer immunology and evaluate possible causes for discrepancies. Key processes include "safety in numbers", resource availability, time delays, interference competition, and immunoediting. Finally, we propose a way forward to reconcile differences between model predictions and empirical observations. The immune system is not just predator-prey. Like natural food webs, the immune-tumor community of cell types forms an immune-web of different and identifiable interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Kareva
- EMD Serono, Merck KGaA, Billerica, MA, United States
| | - Kimberly A. Luddy
- Department of Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Cliona O’Farrelly
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Robert A. Gatenby
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Joel S. Brown
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
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10
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Schneider T. The holobiont self: understanding immunity in context. HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE LIFE SCIENCES 2021; 43:99. [PMID: 34370107 PMCID: PMC8350931 DOI: 10.1007/s40656-021-00454-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Both concepts of the holobiont and the immune system are at the heart of an ongoing scientific and philosophical examination concerning questions of the organism's individuality and identity as well as the relations between organisms and their environment. Examining the holobiont, the question of boundaries and individuality is challenging because it is both an assemblage of organisms with physiological cohesive aspects. I discuss the concept of immunity and the immune system function from the holobiont perspective. Because of the host-microbial close relations of codependence and interdependence, the holobiont is more often than not confused with the host, as the host is the domain in which this entity exists. I discuss the holobiont unique ecological characteristics of microbial assemblages connected to a host in a network of interactions in which the host is one of the organisms in the community but also its landscape. Therefore, I suggest viewing the holobiont as a host-ecosystem and discuss the implication of such a view on the concept of immunity and the meaning of protection. Furthermore, I show that viewing the holobiont as a host ecosystem opens the possibility of using the same ecological definition of boundaries and immunity dealing with an ecological system. Thus, the holobiont's boundaries and immunity are defined by the persistence of its complex system of interactions integrating existing and new interactions. This way of thinking presents a notion of immunity that materializes as the result of the complex interdependence relations between the different organisms composing the holobiont similar to that of an ecosystem. Taking this view further, I discuss the notion of immunogenicity that is ontologically heterogeneous with various causal explanations of the processes of tolerance and targeted immune response. Finally, I discuss the possible conceptualization of already existing and new biomedical practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Schneider
- Cohn Institute for History and Philosophy of Science and Ideas, Humanities Faculty, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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11
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Phenotypic plasticity through disposable genetic adaptation in ciliates. Trends Microbiol 2021; 30:120-130. [PMID: 34275698 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Ciliates have an extraordinary genetic system in which each cell harbors two distinct kinds of nucleus, a transcriptionally active somatic nucleus and a quiescent germline nucleus. The latter undergoes classical, heritable genetic adaptation, while adaptation of the somatic nucleus is only short-term and thus disposable. The ecological and evolutionary relevance of this nuclear dimorphism have never been well formalized, which is surprising given the long history of using ciliates such as Tetrahymena and Paramecium as model organisms. We present a novel, alternative explanation for ciliate nuclear dimorphism which, we argue, should be considered an instrument of phenotypic plasticity by somatic selection on the level of the ciliate clone, as if it were a diffuse multicellular organism. This viewpoint helps to put some enigmatic aspects of ciliate biology into perspective and presents the diversity of ciliates as a large natural experiment that we can exploit to study phenotypic plasticity and organismality.
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12
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Stencel A, Suárez J. Do Somatic Cells Really Sacrifice Themselves? Why an Appeal to Coercion May be a Helpful Strategy in Explaining the Evolution of Multicellularity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13752-021-00376-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAn understanding of the factors behind the evolution of multicellularity is one of today’s frontiers in evolutionary biology. This is because multicellular organisms are made of one subset of cells with the capacity to transmit genes to the next generation (germline cells) and another subset responsible for maintaining the functionality of the organism, but incapable of transmitting genes to the next generation (somatic cells). The question arises: why do somatic cells sacrifice their lives for the sake of germline cells? How is germ/soma separation maintained? One conventional answer refers to inclusive fitness theory, according to which somatic cells sacrifice themselves altruistically, because in so doing they enhance the transmission of their genes by virtue of their genetic relatedness to germline cells. In the present article we will argue that this explanation ignores the key role of policing mechanisms in maintaining the germ/soma divide. Based on the pervasiveness of the latter, we argue that the role of altruistic mechanisms in the evolution of multicellularity is limited and that our understanding of this evolution must be enriched through the consideration of coercion mechanisms.
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13
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Ajana B. Immunitarianism: defence and sacrifice in the politics of Covid-19. HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE LIFE SCIENCES 2021; 43:25. [PMID: 33616771 PMCID: PMC7899054 DOI: 10.1007/s40656-021-00384-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
As witnessed over the last year, immunity emerged as one of most highly debated topics in the current Covid-19 pandemic. Countries around the globe have been debating whether herd immunity or lockdown is the best response, as the race continues for the development and rollout of effective vaccines against coronavirus and as the economic costs of implementing strict containment measures are weighed against public health costs. What became evident all the more is that immunity is precisely what bridges between biological life and political life in the current climate, be it in terms of the contentious notion of herd immunity, the geopolitical struggle for vaccines, or the possible emergence of "Covid-elite", i.e. holders of so-called "immunity passports". Immunity, as such, is certainly not only a matter of science and biology alone, but is inherently political in the way that pandemics themselves are often highly politicised. Drawing on the work of Roberto Esposito and other literature from the field of biopolitics and immunology, this paper provides a critical examination of the concept of immunity in light of the recent events, highlighting the intersections between the politics of defence and the politics of sacrifice which animate governments' immunitary responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. The paper ends with a discussion on the forms of solidarity and local initiatives that have been mobilised during the current pandemic and their potential for an affirmative form of biopolitics. Overall, the main aim of this paper is to provide a critical cultural and philosophical analysis of Covid-19 debates and responses and a nuanced account on the biopolitical effects of the current pandemic, highlighting the paradoxical nature of immunity which straddles at once negative practices of defence and sacrifice as well as affirmative forms of community and solidarity beyond state apparatuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Btihaj Ajana
- Department of Digital Humanities, King's College London, London, UK.
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14
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He S, Sieksmeyer T, Che Y, Mora MAE, Stiblik P, Banasiak R, Harrison MC, Šobotník J, Wang Z, Johnston PR, McMahon DP. Evidence for reduced immune gene diversity and activity during the evolution of termites. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20203168. [PMID: 33593190 PMCID: PMC7934958 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.3168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of biological complexity is associated with the emergence of bespoke immune systems that maintain and protect organism integrity. Unlike the well-studied immune systems of cells and individuals, little is known about the origins of immunity during the transition to eusociality, a major evolutionary transition comparable to the evolution of multicellular organisms from single-celled ancestors. We aimed to tackle this by characterizing the immune gene repertoire of 18 cockroach and termite species, spanning the spectrum of solitary, subsocial and eusocial lifestyles. We find that key transitions in termite sociality are correlated with immune gene family contractions. In cross-species comparisons of immune gene expression, we find evidence for a caste-specific social defence system in termites, which appears to operate at the expense of individual immune protection. Our study indicates that a major transition in organismal complexity may have entailed a fundamental reshaping of the immune system optimized for group over individual defence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shulin He
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195 Berlin, Germany.,Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany.,Faculty of Forestry and Wood Science, Czech University of Life Science Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Thorben Sieksmeyer
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195 Berlin, Germany.,Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany
| | - Yanli Che
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Tiansheng 2, 400715 Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - M Alejandra Esparza Mora
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195 Berlin, Germany.,Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany
| | - Petr Stiblik
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Science, Czech University of Life Science Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ronald Banasiak
- Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany
| | - Mark C Harrison
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jan Šobotník
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Science Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zongqing Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Tiansheng 2, 400715 Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Paul R Johnston
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195 Berlin, Germany.,Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research, Königin-Luise-Str. 6-8, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dino P McMahon
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstr. 1, 14195 Berlin, Germany.,Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany
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15
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Stencel A. Do seasonal microbiome changes affect infection susceptibility, contributing to seasonal disease outbreaks? Bioessays 2020; 43:e2000148. [PMID: 33165975 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202000148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present paper is to explore whether seasonal outbreaks of infectious diseases may be linked to changes in host microbiomes. This is a very important issue, because one way to have more control over seasonal outbreaks is to understand the factors that underlie them. In this paper, I will evaluate the relevance of the microbiome as one of such factors. The paper is based on two pillars of reasoning. Firstly, on the idea that microbiomes play an important role in their hosts' defence against infectious diseases. Secondly, on the idea that microbiomes are not stable, but change seasonally. These two ideas are combined in order to argue that seasonal changes in a given microbiome may influence the functionality of the host's immune system and consequently make it easier for infectious agents to infect the host at certain times of year. I will argue that, while this is only a theoretical possibility, certain studies may back up such claims. Furthermore, I will show that this does not necessarily contradict other hypotheses aimed at explaining seasonal outbreaks; in fact, it may even enhance them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Stencel
- Institute of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
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16
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Morsink MAJ, Willemen NGA, Leijten J, Bansal R, Shin SR. Immune Organs and Immune Cells on a Chip: An Overview of Biomedical Applications. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11090849. [PMID: 32932680 PMCID: PMC7570325 DOI: 10.3390/mi11090849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the immune system is of great importance for the development of drugs and the design of medical implants. Traditionally, two-dimensional static cultures have been used to investigate the immune system in vitro, while animal models have been used to study the immune system’s function and behavior in vivo. However, these conventional models do not fully emulate the complexity of the human immune system or the human in vivo microenvironment. Consequently, many promising preclinical findings have not been reproduced in human clinical trials. Organ-on-a-chip platforms can provide a solution to bridge this gap by offering human micro-(patho)physiological systems in which the immune system can be studied. This review provides an overview of the existing immune-organs-on-a-chip platforms, with a special emphasis on interorgan communication. In addition, future challenges to develop a comprehensive immune system-on-chip model are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaretha A. J. Morsink
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (M.A.J.M.); (N.G.A.W.)
- Department of Developmental BioEngineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands;
- Translational Liver Research, Department of Medical Cell BioPhysics, Technical Medical Centre, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands;
| | - Niels G. A. Willemen
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (M.A.J.M.); (N.G.A.W.)
- Department of Developmental BioEngineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands;
| | - Jeroen Leijten
- Department of Developmental BioEngineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands;
| | - Ruchi Bansal
- Translational Liver Research, Department of Medical Cell BioPhysics, Technical Medical Centre, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands;
| | - Su Ryon Shin
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (M.A.J.M.); (N.G.A.W.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-617-768-8320
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17
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Ronai I, Greslehner GP, Boem F, Carlisle J, Stencel A, Suárez J, Bayir S, Bretting W, Formosinho J, Guerrero AC, Morgan WH, Prigot-Maurice C, Rodeck S, Vasse M, Wallis JM, Zacks O. "Microbiota, symbiosis and individuality summer school" meeting report. MICROBIOME 2020; 8:117. [PMID: 32795355 PMCID: PMC7427737 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-00898-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
How does microbiota research impact our understanding of biological individuality? We summarize the interdisciplinary summer school on "Microbiota, symbiosis and individuality: conceptual and philosophical issues" (July 2019), which was supported by a European Research Council starting grant project "Immunity, DEvelopment, and the Microbiota" (IDEM). The summer school centered around interdisciplinary group work on four facets of microbiota research: holobionts, individuality, causation, and human health. The conceptual discussion of cutting-edge empirical research provided new insights into microbiota and highlights the value of incorporating into meetings experts from other disciplines, such as philosophy and history of science. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isobel Ronai
- Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Ave, New York, 10027 NY USA
| | - Gregor P. Greslehner
- ImmunoConcept, UMR5164, CNRS & University of Bordeaux, 146 Rue Léo Saignat, Bordeaux, 33076 France
| | - Federico Boem
- Dipartimento di Filosofia e Scienze dell’Educazione, Università degli Studi di Torino, Palazzo Nuovo, Via Sant’Ottavio, 20, Torino, 10124 Italy
| | - Judith Carlisle
- Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Philosophy, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, 63130-4899 MO USA
| | - Adrian Stencel
- Institute of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, Grodzka 52, Kraków, 33-332 Poland
| | - Javier Suárez
- Abteilung Philosophie, Universität Bielefeld, Universitätsstraße 25, Bielefeld, 33615 Germany
| | - Saliha Bayir
- Institut für Philosophie,Universität Kassel, Henschelstr. 2, Kassel, 34127 Germany
| | - Wiebke Bretting
- ImmunoConcept, UMR5164, CNRS & University of Bordeaux, 146 Rue Léo Saignat, Bordeaux, 33076 France
| | - Joana Formosinho
- Medical Museion, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Fredericiagade 18, Copenhagen, 1310 Denmark
| | - Anna C. Guerrero
- Arizona State University, Center for Biology and Society, 427 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, 85281 AZ USA
| | - William H. Morgan
- The University of Sheffield, Department of Philosophy, 45 Victoria Street, Sheffield, S3 7QB UK
| | - Cybèle Prigot-Maurice
- Université de Poitiers, Laboratoire Écologie et Biologie des Interactions, UMR CNRS 7267, Bâtiment B35, 5 rue Albert Turpain, TSA 51106, Poitiers Cedex 9, 86073 France
| | - Salome Rodeck
- Leibniz Center for Literary and Cultural Research, Schützenstr. 18, Berlin, 10117 Germany
| | - Marie Vasse
- Institute for Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, Zürich, 8092 Switzerland
| | - Jacqueline M. Wallis
- University of Bristol, Department of Philosophy, Cotham House, Bristol, BS6 6JL UK
| | - Oryan Zacks
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801 Israel
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18
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Suárez J, Stencel A. A part‐dependent account of biological individuality: why holobionts are individuals
and
ecosystems simultaneously. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:1308-1324. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Javier Suárez
- Department of Philosophy, Logos/BIAP University of Barcelona C/Montalegre 6 Barcelona E‐08001 Spain
- Egenis – The Centre for the Study of Life Sciences University of Exeter St. German's Rd Exeter EX4 4PJ U.K
| | - Adrian Stencel
- Institute of Philosophy Jagiellonian University Kraków 31‐044 Poland
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Abstract
One of the fundamental questions in neuroscience is how brain activity relates to conscious experience. Even though self-consciousness is considered an emergent property of the brain network, a quantum physics-based theory assigns a momentum of consciousness to the single neuron level. In this work, we present a brain self theory from an evolutionary biological perspective by analogy with the immune self. In this scheme, perinatal reactivity to self inputs would guide the selection of neocortical neurons within the subplate, similarly to T lymphocytes in the thymus. Such self-driven neuronal selection would enable effective discrimination of external inputs and avoid harmful "autoreactive" responses. Multiple experimental and clinical evidences for this model are provided. Based on this self tenet, we outline the postulates of the so-called autophrenic diseases, to then make the case for schizophrenia, an archetypic disease with rupture of the self. Implications of this model are discussed, along with potential experimental verification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Sánchez-Ramón
- Department of Clinical Immunology, IML and IdISSC, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Immunology, ENT and Ophthalmology, Complutense University School of Medicine, Madrid, Spain
| | - Florence Faure
- INSERM U932, PSL Research University, Institut Curie, Paris, France
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