Evolution of herbs: key to the conundrum might be tolerance not avoidance

草本植物的进化：解决难题的关键在于忍耐而非逃避 木本植物延续了其祖先被子植物的生长形态,而草本植物则不断地从中进化演变。虽然关于驱动草本植物习性进化的因素已有许多假设,但是通过舍弃地上生物质从而避免冬季冻害的能力常常被认为是促使其进化的主要力量。然而,鉴于草本植物在反复干扰中依旧能够轻松存活,我们提出了不可预测的干扰可能比季节性霜冻更为重要的假设。我们通过比较草本植物和木本植物应对3种模拟干扰(容易预测的冬季冰冻、不易预测的春季冰冻和食草作用)的能力来验证这一假设。通过比较20种不同植物在同质园实验中的表现,我们评估了这些干扰对植物死亡和再生方面的影响。研究结果表明,在冬季冰冻条件下,比起木本植物,草本植物在存活率上并没有优势。在不易预测的春季冰冻条件下,草本植物比木本植物的存活率更高。而在模拟食草作用的条件下,草本植物的这种生存优势更大。在不可预测的条件下,草本植物相较于木本植物的生存优势表明,草本植物的生长形式可能是对不可预测的干扰的适应,这种逆境忍耐通过其损失地上生物质也能够生存的能力得以实现。因此,哺乳动物的食草行为或火灾等原因或许最有可能是木本植物向草本植物过渡的因素。     

Quality Control Testing,Characterization and Critical Quality Attributes of Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors Used for Human Gene Therapy

For adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based human gene therapy, challenges for the translation of promising research results to successful clinical development include optimization of vector design and manufacturing processes to ensure that vectors prepared for administration to human subjects have attributes consistent with safe and durable expression. This article briefly reviews quality control methods for routine testing and supplemental characterization of AAV vectors for investigational product development. The relationship of vector and manufacturing process design with product critical quality attributes is discussed.     

Widespread phenotypic and genetic divergence along altitudinal gradients in animals

Altitudinal gradients offer valuable study systems to investigate how adaptive genetic diversity is distributed within and between natural populations and which factors promote or prevent adaptive differentiation. The environmental clines along altitudinal gradients tend to be steep relative to the dispersal distance of many organisms, providing an opportunity to study the joint effects of divergent natural selection and gene flow. Temperature is one variable showing consistent altitudinal changes, and altitudinal gradients can therefore provide spatial surrogates for some of the changes anticipated under climate change. Here, we investigate the extent and patterns of adaptive divergence in animal populations along altitudinal gradients by surveying the literature for (i) studies on phenotypic variation assessed under common garden or reciprocal transplant designs and (ii) studies looking for signatures of divergent selection at the molecular level. Phenotypic data show that significant between‐population differences are common and taxonomically widespread, involving traits such as mass, wing size, tolerance to thermal extremes and melanization. Several lines of evidence suggest that some of the observed differences are adaptively relevant, but rigorous tests of local adaptation or the link between specific phenotypes and fitness are sorely lacking. Evidence for a role of altitudinal adaptation also exists for a number of candidate genes, most prominently haemoglobin, and for anonymous molecular markers. Novel genomic approaches may provide valuable tools for studying adaptive diversity, also in species that are not amenable to experimentation.     

Limited plasticity in the phenotypic variance‐covariance matrix for male advertisement calls in the black field cricket,Teleogryllus commodus

Phenotypic integration and plasticity are central to our understanding of how complex phenotypic traits evolve. Evolutionary change in complex quantitative traits can be predicted using the multivariate breeders’ equation, but such predictions are only accurate if the matrices involved are stable over evolutionary time. Recent study, however, suggests that these matrices are temporally plastic, spatially variable and themselves evolvable. The data available on phenotypic variance‐covariance matrix ( P ) stability are sparse, and largely focused on morphological traits. Here, we compared P for the structure of the complex sexual advertisement call of six divergent allopatric populations of the Australian black field cricket, Teleogryllus commodus. We measured a subset of calls from wild‐caught crickets from each of the populations and then a second subset after rearing crickets under common‐garden conditions for three generations. In a second experiment, crickets from each population were reared in the laboratory on high‐ and low‐nutrient diets and their calls recorded. In both experiments, we estimated P for call traits and used multiple methods to compare them statistically (Flury hierarchy, geometric subspace comparisons and random skewers). Despite considerable variation in means and variances of individual call traits, the structure of P was largely conserved among populations, across generations and between our rearing diets. Our finding that P remains largely stable, among populations and between environmental conditions, suggests that selection has preserved the structure of call traits in order that they can function as an integrated unit.     

Identification of ABCG2 Dysfunction as a Major Factor Contributing to Gout

The ATP-binding cassette, subfamily G, member 2 gene ABCG2/BCRP locates in a gout-susceptibility locus (MIM 138900) on chromosome 4q. Recent genome-wide association studies also showed that the ABCG2 gene relates to serum uric acid levels and gout. Since ABCG2 is also known as a transporter of nucleotide analogs that are structurally similar to urate, and is an exporter that has common polymorphic reduced functionality variants, ABCG2 could be a urate secretion transporter and a gene causing gout. To find candidate mutations in ABCG2, we performed a mutation analysis of the ABCG2 gene in 90 Japanese patients with hyperuricemia and found six non-synonymous mutations. Among the variants, ATP-dependent urate transport was reduced or eliminated in five variants, and two out of the five variants (Q126X and Q141K) were frequently detected in patients. Haplotype frequency analysis revealed that there is no simultaneous presence of Q126X and Q141K in one haplotype. As Q126X and Q141K are a nonfunctional and half-functional haplotype, respectively, their genotype combinations are divided into four estimated functional groups. The association study with 161 male gout patients and 865 male controls showed that all of those who had dysfunctional ABCG2 had an increased risk of gout, and that a remarkable risk was observed in those with ≤1/4 function (OR, 25.8; 95% CI, 10.3–64.6; p = 3.39 × 10^?21). In 2,150 Japanese individuals, the frequency of those with dysfunctional ABCG2 was more than 50%. Our function-based clinicogenetic analysis identified the combinations of dysfunctional variants of ABCG2 as a major contributing factor in Japanese patients with gout.     

ABCG2/BCRP Dysfunction as a Major Cause of Gout

Recent genome-wide association studies showed that serum uric acid (SUA) levels relate to ABCG2/BCRP gene, which locates in a gout-susceptibility locus revealed by a genome-wide linkage study. Together with the ABCG2 characteristics, we hypothesized that ABCG2 transports urate and its dysfunction causes hyperuricemia and gout. Transport assays showed ATP-dependent transport of urate via ABCG2. Kinetic analysis revealed that ABCG2 mediates high-capacity transport of urate (Km: 8.24 ± 1.44 mM) even under high-urate conditions. Mutation analysis of ABCG2 in 90 Japanese hyperuricemia patients detected six nonsynonymous mutations, including five dysfunctional variants. Two relatively frequent dysfunctional variants, Q126X and Q141K, were then examined. Quantitative trait locus analysis of 739 Japanese individuals showed that Q141K increased SUA as the number of minor alleles of Q141K increased (p = 6.60 × 10^?5). Haplotype frequency analysis revealed that there is no simultaneous presence of Q126X and Q141K in one haplotype. Becuase Q126X and Q141K are assigned to nonfunctional and half-functional haplotypes, respectively, their genotype combinations are divided into four functional groups. The association study with 161 male gout patients and 865 male controls showed that all of those with dysfunctional ABCG2 increased the gout risk, especially those with ≤1/4 function (OR, 25.8; 95% CI, 10.3–64.6; p = 3.39 × 10^?21). These genotypes were found in 10.1% of gout patients, but in only 0.9% of control. Our function-based clinicogenetic (FBCG) analysis showed that combinations of the two dysfunctional variants are major causes of gout, thereby providing a new approach for prevention and treatment of the gout high-risk population.     

The relationships between brain,serum, and whole blood ChE activity in the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) and the common shrew (Sorex araneus) after acute sublethal exposure to dimethoate

Abstract

Inhibition of cholinesterase (ChE) activity produced by a single acute intraperitoneal administration of dimethoate was studied in the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, and the common shrew, Sorex araneus, under laboratory conditions. ChE values from serum and whole blood were compared with those obtained from brain in order to obtain a non-destructive tool for predicting the severity of brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. In addition, serum and brain inhibition following oral exposure to dimethoate was also measured in the wood mouse. Normal ChE activity was higher in the brain and whole blood of the shrews than in wood mice. There was no difference between species in serum ChE activity. Exposure to dimethoate caused a dose-dependent reduction in ChE activity and there was a significant recovery in activity with increasing time after administration. In both species, serum and whole blood were more sensitive than brain for revealing organophosphate-induced ChE inhibition and serum was more sensitive than whole blood. Statistically significant relationships were defined between whole blood and brain ChE activity and between serum and brain ChE activity. Compared with serum, whole blood ChE activity was the more accurate predictor of brain AChE levels. The relationships between brain and serum ChE activity did not appear to be affected by the route of administration of the pesticide.     

Corvids avoid odd evaluation by following simple rules in a risky exchange task

In their natural environment, animals often make decisions crucial for survival, such as choosing the best patch or food, or the best partner to cooperate. The choice can be compared to a gamble with an outcome that is predictable but not certain, such as rolling a dice. In economics, such a situation is called a risky context. Several models show that although individuals can generally evaluate the odds of each potential outcome, they can be subject to errors of judgment or choose according to decision-making heuristics (simple decision rules). In non-human primates, similar errors of judgment have been reported and we have recently shown that they also use a decisional heuristics when confronted with a risky choice in an exchange task. This suggests a common evolutionary origin to the mechanisms underlying decision-making under risk in primates. However, whether the same mechanisms are also present in more distantly related taxa needs to be further investigated. Other social species, like corvids, are renowned for their advanced cognitive skills and may show similar responses. Here, we analyse data on corvids (carrion crows, hooded crows, common ravens and rooks) tested in a risky exchange task comparable to the one used in non-human primates. We investigated whether corvids could exchange according to the odds of success or, alternatively, whether they used a heuristic similar to the one used by non-human primates. Instead, most corvids chose a course of action (either a low or high exchange rate) that remained constant throughout the study. In general, corvids’ mean exchange rates were lower compared to non-human primates, indicating that they were either risk-adverse or that they do not possess the cognitive capabilities to evaluate odds. Further studies are required to evaluate the flexibility in exchange abilities of these birds in exchange abilities of these birds.     

Predicting the factors influencing the inter- and intraspecific survival rates of riverine fishes implanted with acoustic transmitters

Biotelemetry is a central tool for fisheries management, with the implantation of transmitters into animals requiring refined surgical techniques that maximize retention rates and fish welfare. Even following successful surgery, long-term post-release survival rates can vary considerably, although knowledge is limited for many species. The aim here was to investigate the post-tagging survival rates in the wild of two lowland river fish species, common bream Abramis brama and northern pike Esox lucius, following their intra-peritoneal double-tagging with acoustic transmitters and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags. Survival over a 2-year period was assessed using acoustic transmitter data in Cox proportional hazards models. Post-tagging survival rates were lowest in the reproductive periods of both species, but in bream, fish tagged just prior to spawning actually had the highest subsequent survival rates. Pike survival was influenced by sex, with males generally surviving longer than females. PIT tag detections at fixed stations identified bream that remained active, despite loss of an acoustic transmitter signal. In these instances, loss of the acoustic signal occurred up to 215 days post-tagging and only during late spring or summer, indicating a role of elevated temperature, while PIT detections occurred between 18 and 359 days after the final acoustic detections. Biotelemetry studies must thus always consider the date of tagging as a fundamental component of study designs to avoid tagged fish having premature end points within telemetry studies.     

Physical maturity in common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from Sarasota Bay,Florida

Cetacean physical maturity is defined by growth cessation and complete fusion of epiphyses to vertebral bodies indicated by invisible sutures. Many studies have shown epiphyseal fusion is highly variable among individuals. In-depth examinations into fusion variability are lacking. We analyzed vertebrae of 37 (n = 21 female, n = 16 male) stranded common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the well-studied Gulf of Mexico, Sarasota Bay community. For each specimen, vertebrae were examined by vertebral region for degree of fusion anteriorly and posteriorly of each centrum and categorized from unfused to fused in five degrees. An ordinal logistic regression was used to estimate degree of fusion probability for each epiphysis. The model had fixed effects for age, number of offspring, sex, sexual maturity, and a random effect for epiphysis. Results show that age/reproductive status significantly explains an individual's degree of fusion. Adult females with fewer calves had more fusion than those with more reproductive experience across multiple ages. Access to long-term observational and sample data on the dolphins residing in the area served by Mote Marine Laboratory's Stranding Investigations Program offers a unique opportunity to examine the relationship between energetic demands of reproduction (calcium production/reproductive output) versus preconceived definitions of physical maturity (skeletal fusion) more closely.