Evolutionary significance of the variation in acoustic communication of a cryptic nocturnal primate radiation (Microcebus spp.)

Acoustic phenotypic variation is of major importance for speciation and the evolution of species diversity. Whereas selective and stochastic forces shaping the acoustic divergence of signaling systems are well studied in insects, frogs, and birds, knowledge on the processes driving acoustic phenotypic evolution in mammals is limited. We quantified the acoustic variation of a call type exchanged during agonistic encounters across eight distinct species of the smallest‐bodied nocturnal primate radiation, the Malagasy mouse lemurs. The species live in two different habitats (dry forest vs. humid forest), differ in geographic distance to each other, and belong to four distinct phylogenetic clades within the genus. Genetically defined species were discriminated reliably on the phenotypic level based on their acoustic distinctiveness in a discriminant function analysis. Acoustic variation was explained by genetic distance, whereas differences in morphology, forest type, or geographic distance had no effect. The strong impact of genetics was supported by a correlation between acoustic and genetic distance and the high agreement in branching pattern between the acoustic and molecular phylogenetic trees. In sum, stochastic factors such as genetic drift best explained acoustic diversification in a social communication call of mouse lemurs.     

Reproductives and eggs trigger worker vibration in a subterranean termite

In insect societies, the presence of reproductives or eggs has been shown to shape several biological traits in the colony members. Social interactions are one of these traits that involve modification of the communication system of the entire colony. Many studies described the role of chemical compounds and dominance behaviors in the presence of reproductive but vibratory behaviors received very few investigations. Yet, vibratory behaviors are ideal candidates, particularly for subterranean species like termites, as they could be quickly transmitted through the substrate and could be very diversified (origin, modulation). Here, we investigated whether the presence of reproductives/eggs affects the vibratory behavior (body‐shaking) of workers in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes. Our results reveal that the presence of reproductives or eggs triggers an increase of workers' body‐shaking, independent of their colony of origin after 24 hr. We hypothesize that vibratory communication could be used to transfer information about the presence of reproductives and eggs to the entire colony, suggesting that vibratory behaviors could serve as an important yet neglected mediator of social regulation.     

Emerging Molecular Tools for Engineering Phytomicrobiome

Microbial plant interaction plays a major role in the sustainability of plants. The understanding of phytomicrobiome interactions enables the gene-editing tools for the construction of the microbial consortia. In this interaction, microbes share several common secondary metabolites and terpenoid metabolic pathways with their host plants that ensure a direct connection between the microbiome and associated plant metabolome. In this way, the CRISPR-mediated gene-editing tool provides an attractive approach to accomplish the creation of microbial consortia. On the other hand, the genetic manipulation of the host plant with the help of CRISPR-Cas9 can facilitate the characterization and identification of the genetic determinants. It leads to the enhancement of microbial capacity for more trait improvement. Many plant characteristics like phytovolatilization, phytoextraction, phytodesalination and phytodegradation are targeted by these approaches. Alternatively, chemical communications by PGPB are accomplished by the exchange of different signal molecules. For example, quorum-sensing is the way of the cell to cell communication in bacteria that lead to the detection of metabolites produced by pathogens during adverse conditions and also helpful in devising some tactics towards understanding plant immunity. Along with quorum-sensing, different volatile organic compounds and N-acyl homoserine lactones play a significant role in cell to cell communication by microbe to plant and among the plants respectively. Therefore, it is necessary to get details of all the significant approaches that are useful in exploring cell to cell communications. In this review, we have described gene-editing tools and the cell to cell communication process by quorum-sensing based signaling. These signaling processes via CRISPR- Cas9 mediated gene editing can improve the microbe-plant community in adverse climatic conditions.     

Focus: Zoonotic Disease: The Practice of Science as the Pursuit of Knowledge

Choosing what scientific project to pursue is the most important decision that scientists at all levels continually face. Time devoted to a project can further desirable knowledge and advance a career or cost years in lost opportunity. Knowing what to consider before embarking on a specific scientific journey, as well as when to drop a project and change course, offers a way of practicing science that keeps us mindful of what is relevant at a given time and place while preserving our freedom to explore the most exciting findings. This article explores both the pressures that restrict this delicate decision-making process and the processes that scientists can apply to overcome those pressures. Above all else, as it turns out, we must still love the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake – and this love directly impacts our results.     

非人灵长类声音通讯的研究进展

声音通讯是非人灵长类研究一个重要的研究领域,有助于了解非人灵长类的社会行为、个体关系、行为进化和社会演化等,甚至对探究人类语言起源和进化等方面也具有十分重要的意义。本文通过对非人灵长类声音通讯的研究内容、影响因素和研究方法等进行了梳理,探讨非人灵长类声音通讯研究的前景和展望,旨在进一步推动国内非人灵长类声音通讯研究的深入,同时为相关研究提供借鉴和参考。     

Cell-to-cell interaction analysis of prognostic ligand-receptor pairs in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Cell-to-cell interactions (CCIs) through ligand-receptor (LR) pairs in the tumor microenvironment underlie the poor prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, there is scant knowledge of the association of CCIs with PDAC prognosis, which is critical to the identification of potential therapeutic candidates. Here, we sought to identify the LR pairs associated with PDAC patient prognosis by integrating survival analysis and single-cell CCI prediction. Via survival analysis using gene expression from cancer cohorts, we found 199 prognostic LR pairs. CCI prediction based on single-cell RNA-seq data revealed the enriched LR pairs associated with poor prognosis. Notably, the CCIs involved epithelial tumor cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and tumor-associated macrophages through integrin-related and ANXA1–FPR pairs. Finally, we determined that CCIs involving 33 poor-prognostic LR pairs were associated with tumor grade. Although the clinical implication of the set of LR pairs must be determined, our results may provide potential therapeutic targets in PDAC.     

Unconventional signalling in tunicates

The zooids in colonial tunicates do not appear to be directly interconnected by nerves, but this has not prevented the evolution of coordinated behaviour in several groups. In Botryllus and other colonial styelid asci‐dians the endothelium lining the blood vessels is excitable and transmits action potentials from cell to cell via gap junctions. These signals mediate protective contractions of the zooids and synchronize contractions of the vascular ampullae. In didemnid ascidians such as Diplosoma a network of myocytes in the tunic serves to transmit excitation and to cause contractions of the cloacal apertures. Individual zooids of Pyrosoma protect themselves by closing their siphons and arresting their branchial cilia when stimulated. At the same time a flash of light is emitted. Neighbouring zooids sense the flash with their photoreceptors and respond in turn with protective responses and light emission. Protective responses thus spread by photic signalling and propagate from zooid to zooid through the colony in a saltatory manner. In chains of Salpafusifortnis, changes in the direction and/or speed of swimming are transmitted from zooid to zooid via adhesion plaques. When a zooid is stimulated, its body‐wall epithelium conducts action potentials to the plaque connecting it to the next zooid, exciting receptor neurons in that zooid. These receptors have sensory processes that bridge the gap between the two zooids. The sensory neurons so excited in the second zooid conduct impulses to the brain where they alter the motor output pattern, and at the same time generate epithelial action potentials that travel to the next zooid in line, where the same thing happens.

It is not clear why these unconventional signalling methods have evolved but the tunic may be an inhospitable environment for nerves, making conventional nervous links impossible.     

Maintenance of dominance is mediated by urinary chemical signals in male European lobsters,Homarus gammarus

We studied the relevance of urine cues in Homarus gammarus dominance maintenance, hypothesising that urinary signals are necessary to mediate recognition of former opponents. Males in size-matched pairs interacted on two consecutive days with or without blocking urine release by adding catheters to both contestants on the second day. European lobsters established dominance in a first fight, and fight duration and aggression levels decreased strongly from first to second day in animals with free urine release, indicating the maintenance of this dominance relationship. If urine was blocked on the second day, fight durations were long in both first and second day interactions. Results demonstrate that urine signals contribute to the maintenance of dominance in H. gammarus males.     

Cell-cell communication via extracellular membrane vesicles and its role in the immune response

The host immune response involves a variety of cell types, including specialized immune and non-immune cells. The delicate coordination among these cells via close communication is central for the proper operation of immune system. Cell-cell communication is mediated by a complex network that includes soluble factors such as cytokines, chemokines, and metabolites exported from cells, as well as membrane-bound receptors and their ligands. Cell-cell communication is also mediated by membrane vesicles (e.g., exosomes, ectosomes), which are either shed by distant cells or exchanged by cells that are making direct contact. Intercellular communication via extracellular membrane vesicles has drawn much attention recently, as they have been shown to carry various biomolecules that modulate the activities of recipient cells. In this review, I will discuss current views on cell-cell communication via extra-cellular membrane vesicles, especially shedded membrane vesicles, and their effects on the control of the immune system.     

Whiteness studies and laypeople's engagements with race and genetics

This paper proposes a research strategy for examining laypeople's thoughts and reflections on innovations in the science of race and genetics. While some sociologists have shown a reluctance to engage in such discussions, this paper argues that social scientists need to take such views seriously. To do this, the paper brings together an anthropological approach to the study of scientific literacy and recent scholarship in the field of Whiteness studies. The combining of these literatures raises a set of interesting and sometimes uncomfortable questions about the ways in which social scientists and research participants contribute to the reproduction of White power and dominance in Western societies.