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Wu J, Zhang L, Shen C, Sin SYW, Lei C, Zhao H. Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals molecular adaptations underlying distinct immunity and inverted resting posture in bats. Integr Zool 2022; 18:493-505. [PMID: 36049759 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Understanding how natural selection shapes unique traits in mammals is a central topic in evolutionary biology. The mammalian order Chiroptera (bats) is attractive for biologists as well as the general public due to their specific traits of extraordinary immunity and inverted resting posture. However, genomic resources for bats that occupy key phylogenetic positions are not sufficient, which hinders comprehensive investigation of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the origin of specific traits in bats. Here, we sequenced the transcriptomes of five bats that are phylogenetically divergent and occupy key positions in the phylogenetic tree of bats. In combination with the available genomes of 19 bats and 21 other mammals, we built a database consisting of 10,918 one-to-one ortholog genes and reconstructed phylogenetic relationships of these mammals. We found that genes related to immunity, bone remodeling and cardiovascular system are targets of natural selection along the ancestral branch of bats. Further analyses revealed that the T cell receptor signaling pathway involved in immune adaptation is specifically enriched in bats. Moreover, molecular adaptations of bone remodeling, cardiovascular system, and balance sensing may help to explain the reverted resting posture in bats. Our study provides valuable transcriptome resources, enabling us to tentatively identify genetic changes associated with bat-specific traits. This work is among the first to advance our understanding of molecular underpinnings of inverted resting posture in bats, which could provide insight into healthcare applications such as hypertension in humans. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwei Wu
- Engineering Research Center of Eco-environment in Three Gorges Reservoir Region of Ministry of Education, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Libiao Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chao Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Simon Yung Wa Sin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Caoqi Lei
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Huabin Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Gutiérrez EG, Rodríguez-Herrera B, Baeza JA, Isabel Salazar M, Ortega J. Genetic Analyses Reveal High Connectivity among Populations of the Honduran White Bat Ectophylla alba in the Caribbean Lowlands of Central Eastern Costa Rica. Acta Chiropterologica 2022. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2022.24.1.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Edgar G. Gutiérrez
- Laboratorio de Bioconservación y Manejo, Posgrado en Ciencias Químicobiológicas, Departamento de Zoología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Col. Santo Tomás, C.P. 11340,
| | - Bernal Rodríguez-Herrera
- Escuela de Biología y Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Ecología Tropical, Universidad de Costa Rica, 11501-2060, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica
| | - J. Antonio Baeza
- Departament of Biological Sciences, 132 Long Hall, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Ma. Isabel Salazar
- Laboratorio de Virología e Inmunovirología, Posgrado en Ciencias Químicobiológicas, Posgrado de Inmunología, Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación Carpio y Plan de Ayala s
| | - Jorge Ortega
- Laboratorio de Bioconservación y Manejo, Posgrado en Ciencias Químicobiológicas, Departamento de Zoología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Col. Santo Tomás, C.P. 11340,
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Fernandez AA, Schmidt C, Schmidt S, Rodríguez-Herrera B, Knörnschild M. Social behaviour and vocalizations of the tent-roosting Honduran white bat. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248452. [PMID: 34379619 PMCID: PMC8357122 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bats are highly gregarious animals, displaying a large spectrum of social systems with different organizational structures. One important factor shaping sociality is group stability. To maintain group cohesion and stability, bats often rely on vocal communication. The Honduran white bat, Ectophylla alba, exhibits an unusual social structure compared to other tent-roosting species. This small white-furred bat lives in perennial stable mixed-sex groups. Tent construction requires several individuals and, as the only tent roosting species so far, involves both sexes. The bats´ social system and ecology render this species an interesting candidate to study social behaviour and vocal communication. In our study, we investigated the social behaviour and vocalizations of E. alba in the tent by observing two stable groups, including pups, in the wild. We documented 16 different behaviours, among others play and fur chewing, a behaviour presumably used for scent-marking. Moreover, we found 10 distinct social call types in addition to echolocation calls, and for seven call types we were able to identify the corresponding broad behavioural context. Most of the social call types were affiliative, including two types of contact calls, maternal directive calls, pup isolation calls and a call type related to the fur-chewing behaviour. In sum, this study entails an ethogram and describes the social vocalizations of a tent-roosting phyllostomid bat, providing the basis for further in-depth studies about the sociality and vocal communication in E. alba.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahana Aurora Fernandez
- Museum für Naturkunde—Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail: (AAF); (MK)
| | | | - Stefanie Schmidt
- Institute of Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Bernal Rodríguez-Herrera
- Escuela de Biología, Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Ecología Tropical, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Mirjam Knörnschild
- Museum für Naturkunde—Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama
- Animal Behavior Lab, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail: (AAF); (MK)
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Vivas-Toro I, Ortega J, Baeza JA. The complete mitochondrial genome of the Honduran white bat Ectophylla alba (Allen 1982) (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae). Gene 2021; 802:145868. [PMID: 34364911 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The Honduran white bat, Ectophylla alba (Allen 1982), is one of eight species belonging to the family Phyllostomidae that exclusively roosts in tents. Due to its restricted distribution, habitat specificity, and diet requirements, E. alba has been strongly affected by habitat loss and fragmentation during the last decade. In this study, we developed the first genomic resource for this species; we assembled and analyzed in detail the complete mitochondrial genome of E. alba. The mitogenome of E. alba is 16,664 bp in length and is comprised of 13 protein coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and a putative Control Region (CR) 1,232 bp in length. Gene arrangement in the mitochondrial chromosome of E. alba is identical to that reported before in other species of co-familiar bats. All PCGs are under purifying selection, with atp8 experiencing the least selective pressure. In all PCGs, codons ending with adenine are preferred over others ending in thymine and cytosine. Except tRNA-Serine 1, all tRNAs exhibit a cloverleaf secondary structure. The CR of E. alba exhibits three domains commonly described in other mammals, including bats; extended terminal associated sequences (ETAS), central, and conserved sequence block (CSB). A ML phylogenetic reconstruction of the family Phyllostomidae based on all 13 mitochondrial PCGs confirms the monophyletic status of the subfamily Sternodermatinae and indicates the close relationship between E. alba and the genus Artibeus. This is the first genomic resource developed for E. alba and represents the first step to improving our understanding of the genomic underpinnings involved in the evolution of specialization as well as acclimatization and adaptation to local and global change of specialist bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela Vivas-Toro
- Laboratorio de Bioconservación y Manejo, Posgrado en Ciencias Quimicobiológicas, Departamento de Zoologia, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biologicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Col. Sto. Tomas, 11340 CDMX, Mexico
| | - Jorge Ortega
- Laboratorio de Bioconservación y Manejo, Posgrado en Ciencias Quimicobiológicas, Departamento de Zoologia, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biologicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Col. Sto. Tomas, 11340 CDMX, Mexico
| | - J Antonio Baeza
- Department of Biological Sciences, 132 Long Hall, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, 701 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34949, USA; Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile.
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