A hitchhikers guide to the Galápagos: co-phylogeography of Galápagos mockingbirds and their parasites

Background

Parasites are evolutionary hitchhikers whose phylogenies often track the evolutionary history of their hosts. Incongruence in the evolutionary history of closely associated lineages can be explained through a variety of possible events including host switching and host independent speciation. However, in recently diverged lineages stochastic population processes, such as retention of ancestral polymorphism or secondary contact, can also explain discordant genealogies, even in fully co-speciating taxa. The relatively simple biogeographic arrangement of the Galápagos archipelago, compared with mainland biomes, provides a framework to identify stochastic and evolutionary informative components of genealogic data in these recently diverged organisms.

Results

Mitochondrial DNA sequences were obtained for four species of Galápagos mockingbirds and three sympatric species of ectoparasites - two louse and one mite species. These data were complemented with nuclear EF1α sequences in selected samples of parasites and with information from microsatellite loci in the mockingbirds. Mitochondrial sequence data revealed differences in population genetic diversity between all taxa and varying degrees of topological congruence between host and parasite lineages. A very low level of genetic variability and lack of congruence was found in one of the louse parasites, which was excluded from subsequent joint analysis of mitochondrial data. The reconciled multi-species tree obtained from the analysis is congruent with both the nuclear data and the geological history of the islands.

Conclusions

The gene genealogies of Galápagos mockingbirds and two of their ectoparasites show strong phylogeographic correlations, with instances of incongruence mostly explained by ancestral genetic polymorphism. A third parasite genealogy shows low levels of genetic diversity and little evidence of co-phylogeny with their hosts. These differences can mostly be explained by variation in life-history characteristics, primarily host specificity and dispersal capabilities. We show that pooling genetic data from organisms living in close ecological association reveals a more accurate phylogeographic history for these taxa. Our results have implications for the conservation and taxonomy of Galápagos mockingbirds and their parasites.     

Centrosomal localization of cyclins E and A: Structural similarities and functional differences

Recent identification of the modular CLS motifs responsible for cyclins A and E localization on centrosomes has revealed a tight linkage between the nuclear and centrosomal cycles. These G₁/S cyclins must localize on the centrosome in order for DNA replication to occur in the nucleus, whereas essential DNA replication factors also function on the centrosome to prevent centrosome overduplication. Both events are dependent on the presence of an intact CLS within each cyclin. Here we compare the cyclins A and E CLSs at the structural and functional levels and identify a new cyclin A CLS mutant that disrupts all CLS functions and reduces the affinity of cyclin A for Cdk2. Analysis of interactions of the CLS motif within the cyclin molecules highlights the importance of the cyclin CBOX1 region for Cdk2 binding.Key words: cyclin A, cyclin E, Cdk2, centrosome, CLS, PSTAIRE, DNA synthesis     

A Canadian Critical Care Trials Group project in collaboration with the international forum for acute care trialists - Collaborative H1N1 Adjuvant Treatment pilot trial (CHAT): study protocol and design of a randomized controlled trial

Background

The Vaccine Assessment using Linked Data (VALiD) trial compared opt-in and opt-out parental consent for a population-based childhood vaccine safety surveillance program using data linkage. A subsequent telephone interview of all households enrolled in the trial elicited parental intent regarding the return or non-return of reply forms for opt-in and opt-out consent. This paper describes the rationale for the trial and provides an overview of the design and methods.

Methods/Design

Single-centre, single-blind, randomised controlled trial (RCT) stratified by firstborn status. Mothers who gave birth at one tertiary South Australian hospital were randomised at six weeks post-partum to receive an opt-in or opt-out reply form, along with information explaining data linkage. The primary outcome at 10 weeks post-partum was parental participation in each arm, as indicated by the respective return or non-return of a reply form (or via telephone or email response). A subsequent telephone interview at 10 weeks post-partum elicited parental intent regarding the return or non-return of the reply form, and attitudes and knowledge about data linkage, vaccine safety, consent preferences and vaccination practices. Enrolment began in July 2009 and 1,129 households were recruited in a three-month period. Analysis has not yet been undertaken. The participation rate and selection bias for each method of consent will be compared when the data are analysed.

Discussion

The VALiD RCT represents the first trial of opt-in versus opt-out consent for a data linkage study that assesses consent preferences and intent compared with actual opting in or opting out behaviour, and socioeconomic factors. The limitations to generalisability are discussed.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12610000332022     

Genetic Characteristics and Prognosis for Existence of the European Bison Free-Living Population Created in the Orlovskoe Poles'e National Park

We present preliminary data on genetic aspects of preserving viability of the free-living population of European bison (Bison bonasus L.) created in the Orlovskoe Poles'e National Park.     

Electrophoretic and immunochemical characteristics of proteins of Rickettsia prowazekii strains of various virulence

PAAG-electrophoresis of the isogenic pair of Rickettsia prowazekii strains E and Evir lysates demonstrate the similarity in polypeptide tracks. The different electrophoretic mobility of the Mr 30 Kd protein from these strains as compared with the mobility of analogous protein from the standard virulent Breinl strain is registered. In immunoblot experiments the specific rabbit antiserums obtained on the 30th day of infection with the Breinl, E or Evir strains demonstrate the presence of the different main antigens 60 Kd or 70 Kd. The difference evidently reflects the specificity of development of two forms of infection by the strains having different virulence. The surface tris-soluble antigens of Rickettsia prowazekii have the similar polypeptide contents and immunochemical properties. The main component of tris-soluble antigens Mr 130 Kd protein is not strain specific having the common thermolabile epitope.     

The correlation of energy-consuming and energy-synthesizing reactions in rat hepatocytes in different O2-deficient states]

It is shown that rat liver cells have different sensitivity to oxygen deficiency. Hepatocytes of highly resistant animals have higher viability and maintain higher ATP levels during acute hypoxia. The data obtained enable us to suppose that liver cells of highly resistant rats are more resistant to oxygen deficiency than nonresistant ones.     

Influence of integrin-binding motif (RGD) on attachment and internalization of avian adenovirus CELO in mammalian cells

Recombinant avian adenovirus CELO bearing sequence RGD in the structure of a HI-loop of long fiber was designed. Experiments in vitro revealed that introduction of RGD-motif into fiber of CELO increased the ability of the virus to be attached to a surface of CAR-negative cells, and raised efficiency of the process of internalization of the virus both in CAR-positive, and in CAR-negative cells.     

Genetic targeting of an adenovirus vector via replacement of the fiber protein with the phage T4 fibritin

The utility of adenovirus (Ad) vectors for gene therapy is restricted by their inability to selectively transduce disease-affected tissues. This limitation may be overcome by the derivation of vectors capable of interacting with receptors specifically expressed in the target tissue. Previous attempts to alter Ad tropism by genetic modification of the Ad fiber have had limited success due to structural conflicts between the fiber and the targeting ligand. Here we present a strategy to derive an Ad vector with enhanced targeting potential by a radical replacement of the fiber protein in the Ad capsid with a chimeric molecule containing a heterologous trimerization motif and a receptor-binding ligand. Our approach, which capitalized upon the overall structural similarity between the human Ad type 5 (Ad5) fiber and bacteriophage T4 fibritin proteins, has resulted in the generation of a genetically modified Ad5 incorporating chimeric fiber-fibritin proteins targeted to artificial receptor molecules. Gene transfer studies employing this novel viral vector have demonstrated its capacity to efficiently deliver a transgene payload to the target cells in a receptor-specific manner.     

Interaction of replication protein A and flap endonuclease 1 with DNA duplexes containing a nick or flap

Nicks and flaps are intermediates in various processes of DNA metabolism, including replication and repair. Photoaffinity modification was employed in studying the interaction of the replication protein A (RPA) and flap endonuclease 1 (FEN-1) with DNA duplexes similar to structures arising during long-patch base excision repair. The proteins were also tested for effect on DNA polymerase beta (Pol beta) interaction with DNA. Using Pol beta, a photoreactive dTTP analog was added to the 3' end of an oligonucleotide flanking a nick or a flap in DNA intermediates. The character and intensity of protein labeling depended on the type of intermediates and on the presence of the phosphate or tetrahydrofuran at the 5' end of a nick or a flap. Photoaffinity labeling of Pol beta substantially (up to three times) increased in the presence of RPA or FEN-1. Various DNA substrates were used to study the effects of RPA and FEN-1 on Pol beta-mediated DNA synthesis with displacement of a downstream primer. In contrast to FEN-1, RPA had no effect on DNA repair synthesis by Pol beta during long-patch base excision repair.