Selective predation on wing morphology in sympatric damselflies

Although predation is thought to affect species divergence, the effects of predator-mediated natural selection on species divergence and in nonadaptive radiations have seldom been studied. Wing melanization in Calopteryx damselflies has important functions in sexual selection and interspecific interactions and in species recognition. The genus Calopteryx and other damselfly genera have also been put forward as examples of radiations driven by sexual selection. We show that avian predation strongly affects natural selection on wing morphology and male wing melanization in two congeneric and sympatric species of this genus (Calopteryx splendens and Calopteryx virgo). Predation risk was almost three times higher for C. virgo, which has an exaggerated degree of wing melanization, than it was for the less exaggerated, sympatric congener C. splendens. Selective predation on the exaggerated species C. virgo favored a reduction and redistribution of the wing melanin patch. There was evidence for nonlinear selection involving wing patch size, wing patch darkness, and wing length and width in C. splendens but weaker nonlinear selection on the same trait combinations in C. virgo. Selective predation could interfere with species divergence by sexual selection and may thus indirectly affect male interspecific interactions, reproductive isolation, and species coexistence in this genus.     

The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C-->T polymorphism as a modulator of a B vitamin network with major effects on homocysteine metabolism

Folates are carriers of one-carbon units and are metabolized by 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and other enzymes that use riboflavin, cobalamin, or vitamin B6 as cofactors. These B vitamins are essential for the remethylation and transsulfuration of homocysteine, which is an important intermediate in one-carbon metabolism. We studied the MTHFR 677C-->T polymorphism and B vitamins as modulators of one-carbon metabolism in 10,601 adults from the Norwegian Colorectal Cancer Prevention (NORCCAP) cohort, using plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) as the main outcome measure. Mean concentrations of plasma tHcy were 10.4 micromol/liter, 10.9 micromol/liter, and 13.3 micromol/liter in subjects with the CC (51%), CT (41%), and TT (8%) genotypes, respectively. The MTHFR 677C-->T polymorphism, folate, riboflavin, cobalamin, and vitamin B6 were independent predictors of tHcy in multivariate models (P<.001), and genotype effects were strongest when B vitamins were low (P相似文献   

Gender differences in species recognition and the evolution of asymmetric sexual isolation

Closely related sympatric species are expected to evolve strong species discrimination because of the reinforcement of mate preferences. Fitness costs of heterospecific matings are thought to be higher in females than in males, and females are therefore expected to show stronger species discrimination than males. Here, we investigated gender and species differences in sexual isolation in a sympatric species pair of Calopteryx damselflies. The genus Calopteryx is one of the classic examples of reproductive character displacement in evolutionary biology, with exaggerated interspecific differences in the amount of dark wing coloration when species become sympatric. Experimental manipulation of the extent of dark wing coloration revealed that sexual isolation results from both female and male mate discrimination and that wing melanization functions as a species recognition character. Female choice of conspecific males is entirely based on wing coloration, whereas males in one species also use other species recognition cues in addition to wing color. Stronger species discrimination ability in males is presumably an evolutionary response to an elevated male predation risk caused by conspicuous wing coloration. Gender differences in species discrimination and fitness costs of male courtship can thus shed new light on the evolution of asymmetric sexual isolation and the reinforcement of mate preferences.     

Helicobacter pylori stimulates a mixed adaptive immune response with a strong T-regulatory component in human gastric mucosa

BACKGROUND: Host factors play an important role in the pathophysiology of Helicobacter pylori infection and development of gastritis and related disease. The established opinion is that the T-cell-mediated immune response to H. pylori infection is of Th1 type. Our earlier immune cell phenotype studies indicate a mixed Th1-Th2 profile of the effector cells. Therefore, an extensive adaptive and regulatory cytokine gene expression profile was conducted by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biopsies from gastric mucosa of 91 patients diagnosed as H. pylori negative, H. pylori positive with gastritis, or H. pylori positive with peptic ulcer were obtained by endoscopy. Gene expressions of nine cytokines and CagA status were measured by qPCR. RESULTS: All cytokine genes showed higher expression levels in the presence of H. pylori when compared to H. pylori-negative samples (fold increase: IL8: x 11.2; IL12A: x 2.4; TNF-alpha: x 5.2; IFN-gamma: x 4.3; IL4: x 3.6; IL6: x 14.7; and IL10: x 6.7). Patients infected with CagA-positive strains had higher expression of IL1-beta and IL18 compared to patients infected with CagA-negative strains (x 1.6 for IL1-beta and x 2.0 for IL18). Patients with duodenal ulcer had a lower antral Th1/Th2 ratio than other H. pylori-positive patients. CONCLUSIONS: The cytokine profile of H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa shows a mixed Th1-Th2 profile. Furthermore, a high IL10 expression may indicate that also regulatory T cells play a role in the chronic phase of H. pylori infection.     

Object localization with whiskers

Rats use their large facial hairs (whiskers) to detect, localize and identify objects in their proximal three-dimensional (3D) space. Here, we focus on recent evidence of how object location is encoded in the neural sensory pathways of the rat whisker system. Behavioral and neuronal observations have recently converged to the point where object location in 3D appears to be encoded by an efficient orthogonal scheme supported by primary sensory-afferents: each primary-afferent can signal object location by a spatial (labeled-line) code for the vertical axis (along whisker arcs), a temporal code for the horizontal axis (along whisker rows), and an intensity code for the radial axis (from the face out). Neuronal evidence shows that (i) the identities of activated sensory neurons convey information about the vertical coordinate of an object, (ii) the timing of their firing, in relation to other reference signals, conveys information about the horizontal object coordinate, and (iii) the intensity of firing conveys information about the radial object coordinate. Such a triple-coding scheme allows for efficient multiplexing of 3D object location information in the activity of single neurons. Also, this scheme provides redundancy since the same information may be represented in the activity of many neurons. These features of orthogonal coding increase accuracy and reliability. We propose that the multiplexed information is conveyed in parallel to different readout circuits, each decoding a specific spatial variable. Such decoding reduces ambiguity, and simplifies the required decoding algorithms, since different readout circuits can be optimized for a particular variable.     

Structure and function of hemoglobin variants at an internal hydrophobic site: consequences of mutations at the beta 27 (B9) position

We have studied the structure-function relationships in newly discovered hemoglobin (Hb) mutants with substitutions occurring at the tight and highly hydrophobic cluster between the B and G helices in the beta chains, namely, Hb Knossos or beta A27S and Hb Grange-Blanche or beta A27V. The beta A27S mutant has a 50% decrease in oxygen affinity relative to native human Hb A, while the beta A27V mutant has an increased oxygen affinity. We have also engineered the artificial beta A27T mutation through site-directed mutagenesis. This new mutant exhibits functional properties similar to those of Hb A. None of these mutants is unstable. X-ray analyses show that the substitution of Val for Ala may reduce the relative stability of the T structure of the molecule through packing effects in the beta chains; for the beta A27S mutant a new hydrogen bond between serine and the carbonyl O at beta 23 (B5) Val is observed and is likely to increase the relative stability of the T structure in the mutant hemoglobin. However, no significant changes in the crystals were observed for these mutants between the quaternary R and T structures relative to native Hb A. We conclude that small tertiary structural changes in the tight hydrophobic B-G helix interface are sufficient to induce functional abnormalities resulting in either low or high intrinsic oxygen affinities.     

On the mechanisms of the growth-promoting effect of prostaglandins in hepatocytes: The relationship between stimulation of DNA synthesis and signaling mediated by adenylyl cyclase and phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C

While many observations indicate that prostaglandins may act as positive regulators of hepatocyte proliferation, the underlying mechanisms are not known. We have examined some of the signal pathways in the growth response induced by prostaglandins in hepatocytes, with particular focus on adenylyl cyclase and phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C. Adult rat hepatocytes were cultured as primary monolayers in serum-free medium in the presence of EGF and insulin. PGE₂ or PGF_2α (added 0-3 h after plating) enhanced the incorporation of [³H]-thymidine into DNA (measured at 50 h); at 100 γM the stimulation was about threefold. PGI₂ and PGD₂ also showed significant but smaller stimulatory effects. No significant increase in the level of cyclic AMP (cAMP) was detected in response to any of the prostaglandins. Low concentrations of glucagon (0.1-10 nM), a potent activator of hepatic adenylyl cyclase, or 8-bromo-cAMP (0.1-10 γM) enhanced the DNA synthesis. When 8-bromo-cAMP was used in maximally effective concentrations, no further stimulation was obtained by combining it with glucagon, whereas the effects of PGE₂ and 8-bromo-cAMP were completely additive. All the prostaglandins also showed additivity with the effect of glucagon on the DNA synthesis. PGE₂, PGF_2α, PGI₂, and PGD₂ increased intracellular inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP₃), with a relative order of efficacy roughly corresponding to their activity as stimulators of DNA synthesis. Increases in cytosolic free Ca²⁺, as measured in single cells, were elicited in a majority of the hepatocytes by all these prostaglandins at 1 γM. Supramaximal concentrations of vasopressin, a strong activator of phospholipase C in hepatocytes, acted additively with PGE₂ on the DNA synthesis. Pretreatment of the hepatocytes with a concentration of pertussis toxin that prevented the inhibitory effect of PGE₂ on glucagon-induced cAMP accumulation did not abolish the ability of PGE₂ to stimulate the DNA synthesis. The results do not support a role for adenylyl cyclase activation in the stimulatory effect of prostaglandins on hepatocyte growth. While the data are compatible with an involvement of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C in the growth-promoting effect of prostaglandins in cultured rat hepatocytes, they suggest this may not be the sole mechanism. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Common montane birds are declining in northern Europe

Large‐scale multi‐species data on population changes of alpine or arctic species are largely lacking. At the same time, climate change has been argued to cause poleward and uphill range shifts and the concomitant predicted loss of habitat may have drastic effects on alpine and arctic species. Here we present a multi‐national bird indicator for the Fennoscandian mountain range in northern Europe (Finland, Sweden and Norway), based on 14 common species of montane tundra and subalpine birch forest. The data were collected at 262 alpine survey plots, mainly as a part of geographically representative national breeding bird monitoring schemes. The area sampled covers around 1/4 million km², spanning 10 degrees of latitude and 1600 km in a northeast–southwest direction. During 2002–2012, nine of the 14 bird species declined significantly in numbers, in parallel to higher summer temperatures and precipitation during this period compared to the preceding 40 yr. The population trends were largely parallel in the three countries and similar among montane tundra and subalpine birch forest species. Long‐distance migrants declined less on average than residents and short‐distance migrants. Some potential causes of the current decline of alpine birds are discussed, but since montane bird population sizes may show strong natural annual variation due to several factors, longer time series are needed to verify the observed population trends. The present Fennoscandian monitoring systems, which from 2010 onwards include more than 400 montane survey plots, have the capacity to deliver a robust bird indicator in the climate‐sensitive mountainous regions of northernmost Europe for conservation purposes.     

Social networks strongly predict the gut microbiota of wild mice

The mammalian gut teems with microbes, yet how hosts acquire these symbionts remains poorly understood. Research in primates suggests that microbes can be picked up via social contact, but the role of social interactions in non-group-living species remains underexplored. Here, we use a passive tracking system to collect high resolution spatiotemporal activity data from wild mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). Social network analysis revealed social association strength to be the strongest predictor of microbiota similarity among individuals, controlling for factors including spatial proximity and kinship, which had far smaller or nonsignificant effects. This social effect was limited to interactions involving males (male-male and male-female), implicating sex-dependent behaviours as driving processes. Social network position also predicted microbiota richness, with well-connected individuals having the most diverse microbiotas. Overall, these findings suggest social contact provides a key transmission pathway for gut symbionts even in relatively asocial mammals, that strongly shapes the adult gut microbiota. This work underlines the potential for individuals to pick up beneficial symbionts as well as pathogens from social interactions.Subject terms: Microbial ecology, Zoology, Community ecology