Inferring the history of speciation in house mice from autosomal,X‐linked,Y‐linked and mitochondrial genes

Patterns of genetic differentiation among taxa at early stages of divergence provide an opportunity to make inferences about the history of speciation. Here, we conduct a survey of DNA‐sequence polymorphism and divergence at loci on the autosomes, X chromosome, Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA in samples of Mus domesticus, M. musculus and M. castaneus. We analyzed our data under a divergence with gene flow model and estimate that the effective population size of M. castaneus is 200 000–400 000, of M. domesticus is 100 000–200 000 and of M. musculus is 60 000–120 000. These data also suggest that these species started to diverge approximately 500 000 years ago. Consistent with this recent divergence, we observed considerable variation in the genealogical patterns among loci. For some loci, all alleles within each species formed a monophyletic group, while at other loci, species were intermingled on the phylogeny of alleles. This intermingling probably reflects both incomplete lineage sorting and gene flow after divergence. Likelihood ratio tests rejected a strict allopatric model with no gene flow in comparisons between each pair of species. Gene flow was asymmetric: no gene flow was detected into M. domesticus, while significant gene flow was detected into both M. castaneus and M. musculus. Finally, most of the gene flow occurred at autosomal loci, resulting in a significantly higher ratio of fixed differences to polymorphisms at the X and Y chromosomes relative to autosomes in some comparisons, or just the X chromosome in others, emphasizing the important role of the sex chromosomes in general and the X chromosome in particular in speciation.     

Comparison of Injuries to Coyote From 3 Types of Cable Foot-Restraints

ABSTRACT We compared injury rates among captured coyotes (Canis latrans) to determine if modifications to cable foot-restraints would decrease resulting injuries. Mean International Standardization Organization's injury scores of coyotes caught in 3 types of cable foot-restraints were 22.2, 37.9, and 60.4 (F_2,41 = 4.63, P = 0.015) for a chain-loop, standard cable, and sleeved cable, respectively. These results may be important for trappers and researchers to consider when using a cable foot-restraint device to capture wildlife.     

Generation of Zika virus–specific T cells from seropositive and virus-naïve donors for potential use as an autologous or “off-the-shelf” immunotherapeutic

BackgroundZika virus (ZIKV) infection can cause severe birth defects in newborns with no effective currently available treatment. Adoptive transfer of virus-specific T cells has proven to be safe and effective for the prevention or treatment of many viral infections, and could represent a novel treatment approach for patients with ZIKV infection. However, extending this strategy to the ZIKV setting has been hampered by limited data on immunogenic T-cell antigens within ZIKV. Hence, we have generated ZIKV-specific T cells and characterized the cellular immune responses against ZIKV antigens.MethodsT-cell products were generated from peripheral blood of ZIKV-exposed donors, ZIKV-naive adult donors and umbilical cord blood by stimulation with pentadecamer (15mer) overlapping peptide libraries spanning four ZIKV polyproteins (C, M, E and NS1) using a Good Manufacturing Practice–compliant protocol.ResultsWe successfully generated T cells targeting ZIKV antigens with clinically relevant numbers. The ex vivo–expanded T cells comprised both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells that were able to produce Th1-polarized effector cytokines and kill ZIKV-infected HLA-matched monocytes, confirming functionality of this unique T-cell product as a potential “off-the-shelf” therapeutic. Epitope mapping using peptide arrays identified several novel HLA class I and class II–restricted epitopes within NS1 antigen, which is essential for viral replication and immune evasion.DiscussionOur findings demonstrate that it is feasible to generate potent ZIKV-specific T cells from a variety of cell sources including virus naïve donors for future clinical use in an “off-the-shelf” setting.     

The Diatom Flora of Bethany Boǵ

The results of these studies indicate that the first diatom flora developed at the 13-meter level. The flora at 12 meters increased. At the 11- and 9-meter levels the lake became increasingly eutrophic. Both plankton and benthic forms were present. At the 8- and 7-meter levels the lake was in a transitional stage from lake to bog conditions. From 6 meters to the surface bog conditions were present.     

Monitoring acid waters in the U.K.: an overview of the U.K. Acid Waters Monitoring Network and summary of the first interpretative exercise

1. The U.K. Acid Waters Monitoring Network (AWMN) was established in 1988. It comprises eleven lake and eleven stream sites located throughout the U.K. in areas sensitive to acidification. The principal objective of the AWMN is to provide a long-term, high-quality chemical, biological and palaeolimnological record which, in conjunction with the U.K. precipitation monitoring networks, will facilitate the assessment of trends within U.K. surface waters.
2. The first interpretation of results generated by the AWMN (April 1988–March 1993) has recently been completed and is summarized. During this period there have been no sustained changes in atmospheric deposition in the U.K. Trends are recognized in certain chemical and/or biological parameters at individual AWMN sites, but despite some (regional) patterns no regional trends toward increasing or decreasing acidification are apparent. The data comprise an excellent baseline with which future changes may be compared.
3. The methodology of the AWMN is reviewed and some amendments are suggested in the light of the first 5 years experience. These include: additional determinations for nitrogen species and total phosphorus; changes to the frequency of macrophyte and palaeolimnological sampling; new emphasis on data generated by sediment traps at lake sites; and the addition of extra sites to address better the full extent of acid-sensitive surface waters revealed by the national critical loads mapping programme, and to pay particular attention to the acidifying role of nitrogen.
4. The contribution of AWMN data to other national and international environmental monitoring programmes is highlighted. In addition, AWMN sites provide data to develop and validate critical loads models and dynamic models of acidification, and could also be used to monitor the impact of other air pollutants such as trace metals and persistent organic compounds on the freshwater environment.     

The Predicament of Chukotka's Indigenous Movement: Post-Soviet Activism in the Russian Far North

The Predicament of Chukotka's Indigenous Movement: Post-Soviet Activism in the Russian Far North . Patty A. Gray. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005. 276 pp.     

FENESTRATE BRYOZOAN GENERA BASED ON SPECIES FROM IRELAND ORIGINALLY DESCRIBED BY FREDERICK M'COY IN 1844

Abstract:  A large number of fenestrate bryozoan species were named in 'A Synopsis of the Characters of the Carboniferous Limestone Fossils of Ireland' by Frederick M'Coy (1844). At the same time, M'Coy named the bryozoan genera Ichthyorachis , Ptylopora and Polypora , each of which by monotypy or by subsequent designation was based on new species within that work. Subsequently, d' Orbigny (1849) named Fenestrellina with the type species Fenestella crassa M'Coy, 1844 as type species; Miller (1961) named Parafenestella with the type species Fenestella formosa M'Coy, 1844 as type species; and Wyse Jackson (1988) named Baculopora with the type species Vincularia megastoma M'Coy, 1844. We re-describe here in more detail than previously the fenestrate type species originally published in M'Coy (1844), provide diagnoses of the genera, and compare the nineteenth century genera with more recently named genera that have been discriminated specifically from them.     

Microclimatic factors influencing refugium suitability for Rhodnius prolixus

Abstract.  Rehydration in the triatomine bug Rhodnius prolixus (Stål) is dependent on the blood meal, and water balance regulation is crucial for survival of starving bugs. In an experimental arena with zones at different climatic conditions, starved R. prolixus nymphs prefer a cooler and more humid zone, stopping there more often and for longer periods. This is probably a behavioural adaptation to limit water loss and reduce metabolic rate. In the Venezuelan State of Portuguesa, temperature and humidity were monitored in three kinds of potential refugia during the dry season: (i) in a palm roof; (ii) in a crack of the wall of a house; and (iii) in a palm tree crown. Fluctuations in temperature and saturation deficit are not very different inside and outside the palm roof except during a few hours of the day when the sun is at its zenith. In the crack of the wall, the diurnal temperature range is reduced to 6.5 °C compared with 12.4 °C outside, and the saturation deficit varies by only 7.6 hPa compared with 28.6 hPa outside. In the palm tree crown, the daily temperature range is only 4.2 °C compared with 13.8 °C outside, and the saturation deficit is permanently < 5 hPa. The microclimatic conditions in the palm tree crown would appear to be ideal for starving R. prolixus , but this kind of refugium generally harbours low densities of bugs, probably related to a combination of predation, pathogens and lower mean temperature within the crown. Such biotic and abiotic constraints play a lesser role in the less ideal palm roof and wall crack refugia where bugs can proliferate as long as hosts are readily available nearby.