bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plant guttation provides nutrient-rich food for insects
Authors: Urbaneja-Bernat Pablo , Tena Alejandro , González-Cabrera Joel , Rodriguez-Saona Cesar
Published: September 2020

Plant guttation is a fluid from xylem and phloem sap secreted at the margins of leaves from many plant species. All previous studies have considered guttation as a water source for insects. Here, we hypothesized that plant guttation serves as a reliable and nutrient-rich food source for insects with effects on their communities. Using highbush blueberries as a study system, we demonstrate that guttation droplets contain carbohydrates and proteins. Insects from three feeding lifestyles, a herbivore, a parasitic wasp and a predator, increased their longevity and fecundity when fed on these guttation droplets compared to those fed on control water. Our results also show that guttation droplets, unlike nectar, are present on leaves during the entire growing season and are visited by numerous insects of different orders. In exclusion-field experiments, the presence of guttation modified the insect community by increasing the number of predators and parasitic wasps that visited the plants. Overall, our results demonstrate that plant guttation is highly reliable, compared to other plant-derived food sources such as nectar, and that it increases the communities and fitness of insects. Therefore, guttation represents an important plant trait with profound implications on multi-trophic insect–plant interactions.
Social competition stimulates cognitive performance in a sex-specific manner
Authors: Rouse James , McDowall Laurin , Mitchell Zak , Duncan Elizabeth J. , Bretman Amanda
Published: September 2020

Social interactions are thought to be a critical driver in the evolution of cognitive ability. Cooperative interactions, such as pair bonding, rather than competitive interactions have been largely implicated in the evolution of increased cognition. This is despite competition traditionally being a very strong driver of trait evolution. Males of many species track changes in their social environment and alter their reproductive strategies in response to anticipated levels of competition. We predict this to be cognitively challenging. Using aDrosophila melanogastermodel, we are able to distinguish between the effects of a competitive environment versus generic social contact by exposing flies to same-sex same-species competition versus different species partners, shown to present non-competitive contacts. Males increase olfactory learning/memory and visual memory after exposure to conspecific males only, a pattern echoed by increased expression of synaptic genes and an increased need for sleep. For females, largely not affected by mating competition, the opposite pattern was seen. The results indicate that specific social contacts dependent on sex, not simply generic social stimulation, may be an important evolutionary driver for cognitive ability in fruit flies.
Testosterone regulates
CYP2J19
-linked carotenoid signal expression in male red-backed fairywrens (
Malurus melanocephalus
)
Authors: Khalil Sarah , Welklin Joseph F. , McGraw Kevin J. , Boersma Jordan , Schwabl Hubert , Webster Michael S. , Karubian Jordan
Published: September 2020

Carotenoid pigments produce most red, orange and yellow colours in vertebrates. This coloration can serve as an honest signal of quality that mediates social and mating interactions, but our understanding of the underlying mechanisms that control carotenoid signal production, including how different physiological pathways interact to shape and maintain these signals, remains incomplete. We investigated the role of testosterone in mediating gene expression associated with a red plumage sexual signal in red-backed fairywrens (
Malurus melanocephalus
). In this species, males within a single population can flexibly produce either red/black nuptial plumage or female-like brown plumage. Combining correlational analyses with a field-based testosterone implant experiment and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we show that testosterone mediates expression of carotenoid-based plumage in part by regulating expression of
CYP2J19
, a ketolase gene associated with ketocarotenoid metabolism and pigmentation in birds. This is, to our knowledge, the first time that hormonal regulation of a specific genetic locus has been linked to carotenoid production in a natural context, revealing how endocrine mechanisms produce sexual signals that shape reproductive success.
Re-identification of strains deposited as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas putida in GenBank based on whole genome sequences
Authors: Morimoto Yuh , Tohya Mari , Aibibula Zulipiya , Baba Tadashi , Daida Hiroyuki , Kirikae Teruo
Published: September 2020

The taxonomic classification of

Pseudomonas

species has been revised and updated several times. This study utilized average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) cutoff values of 95 and 70 %, respectively, to re-identify the species of strains deposited in GenBank as

P. aeruginosa

,

P. fluorescens

and

P. putida

. Of the 264 deposited

P. aeruginosa

strains, 259 were correctly identified as

P. aeruginosa

, but the remaining five were not. All 28 deposited

P. fluorescens

strains had been incorrectly identified as

P. fluorescens

. Four of these strains were re-identified, including two as

P. kilonensis

and one each as

P. aeruginosa

and

P. brassicacearum

, but the remaining 24 could not be re-identified. Similarly, all 35 deposited

P. putida

strains had been incorrectly identified as

P. putida

. Nineteen of these strains were re-identified, including 12 as

P. alloputida

, four as

P. asiatica

and one each as

P. juntendi

,

P. monteilii

and

P. mosselii

. These results strongly suggest that

Pseudomonas

bacteria should be identified using ANI and dDDH analyses based on whole genome sequencing when

Pseudomonas

species are initially deposited in GenBank/DDBJ/EMBL databases.
Variation across population subgroups of COVID-19 antibody testing performance
Authors: Brantley Halley L. , Yoo Richard M. , Jones Glen I. , Stock Marel A. , Park Peter J. , Sheils Natalie E. , Kohane Isaac S.
Published: September 2020

Understanding variations in the performance of serological tests for SARS-CoV-2 across varying demographics is relevant to clinical interpretations and public policy derived from their results. Appropriate use of serological assays to detect anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies requires estimation of their accuracy over large populations and an understanding of the variance in performance over time and across demographic groups. In this manuscript we focus on anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, IgA, and IgM antibody tests approved under emergency use authorizations and determine the recall of the serological tests compared to RT-PCR tests by Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINCs). Variability in test performance was further examined over time and by demographics. The recall of the most common IgG assay (LOINC 94563-4) was 91.2% (95% CI: 90.5%, 91.9%). IgA (LOINC 94562-6) and IgM (94564-2) assays performed significantly worse than IgG assays with estimated recall rates of 20.6% and 27.3%, respectively. A statistically significant difference in recall (p = 0.019) was observed across sex with a higher recall in males than females, 92.1% and 90.4%, respectively. Recall also differed significantly by age group, with higher recall in those over 45 compared to those under 45, 92.9% and 88.0%, respectively (p< 0.001). While race was unavailable for the majority of the individuals, a significant difference was observed between recall in White individuals and Black individuals (p = 0.007) and White individuals and Hispanic individuals (p = 0.001). The estimates of recall were 89.3%, 95.9%, and 94.2% for White, Black, and Hispanic individuals respectively.
Levels of genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 virus: reducing speculations about the genetic variability of the virus in South America
Authors: Felix Pierre Teodósio , do Nascimento Filho Cícero Batista , da Silva Ramos Robson , Paulino Antônio João , Venâncio Dallynne Bárbara Ramos
Published: September 2020

In this work, we evaluated the levels of genetic diversity in 38 complete Genomes of SARS-CoV-2 from six countries in South America, using specific methodologies for paired FST, AMOVA, mismatch, demographic and spatial expansions, molecular diversity and for the time of evolutionary divergence. The analyses showed non-significant evolutionary divergences within and between the six countries, as well as a significant similarity to the time of genetic evolutionary divergence between all populations. Thus, it seems safe to affirm that we will find similar results for the other Countries of South America, reducing speculation about the existence of rapid and silent mutations that, although there are as we have shown in this work, do not increase, until this moment, the genetic variability of the Virus, a fact that would hinder the work with molecular targets for vaccines and drugs in general.
Multiple pathways of toxicity induced byC9orf72dipeptide repeat aggregates and G4C2RNA in a cellular model
Authors: Frottin Frédéric , Pérez-Berlanga Manuela , Hartl F. Ulrich , Hipp Mark S.
Published: September 2020

The most frequent genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia is a G4C2repeat expansion in theC9orf72gene. This expansion gives rise to translation of aggregating dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins, including poly-GA as the most abundant species. However, gain of toxic function effects have been attributed to either the DPRs or the pathological G4C2RNA. Here we analyzed in a cellular model the relative toxicity of DPRs and RNA. Cytoplasmic poly-GA aggregates, generated in the absence of G4C2RNA, interfered with nucleocytoplasmic protein transport, but had little effect on cell viability. In contrast, nuclear poly-GA was more toxic, impairing nucleolar protein quality control and protein biosynthesis. Production of the G4C2RNA strongly reduced viability independent of DPR translation and caused pronounced inhibition of nuclear mRNA export and protein biogenesis. Thus, while the toxic effects of G4C2RNA predominate, DPRs exert additive effects that may contribute to pathology.
Reduction of neuronal activity mediated by blood-vessel regression in the brain
Authors: Gao Xiaofei , Li Jun-Liszt , Chen Xingjun , Ci Bo , Chen Fei , Lu Nannan , Shen Bo , Zheng Lijun , Jia Jie-Min , Yi Yating , Zhang Shiwen , Shi Ying-Chao , Shi Kaibin , Propson Nicholas E , Huang Yubin , Poinsatte Katherine , Zhang Zhaohuan , Yue Yuanlei , Bosco Dale B , Lu Ying-mei , Yang Shi-bing , Adams Ralf H. , Lindner Volkhard , Huang Fen , Wu Long-Jun , Zheng Hui , Han Feng , Hippenmeyer Simon , Stowe Ann M. , Peng Bo , Margeta Marta , Wang Xiaoqun , Liu Qiang , Körbelin Jakob , Trepel Martin , Lu Hui , Zhou Bo O. , Zhao Hu , Su Wenzhi , Bachoo Robert M. , Ge Woo-ping
Published: September 2020

The brain vasculature supplies neurons with glucose and oxygen, but little is known about how vascular plasticity contributes to brain function. Using longitudinalin vivoimaging, we reported that a substantial proportion of blood vessels in the adult brain sporadically occluded and regressed. Their regression proceeded through sequential stages of blood-flow occlusion, endothelial cell collapse, relocation or loss of pericytes, and retraction of glial endfeet. Regressing vessels were found to be widespread in mouse, monkey and human brains. Both brief occlusions of the middle cerebral artery and lipopolysaccharide-mediated inflammation induced an increase of vessel regression. Blockage of leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cells alleviated LPS-induced vessel regression. We further revealed that blood vessel regression caused a reduction of neuronal activity due to a dysfunction in mitochondrial metabolism and glutamate production. Our results elucidate the mechanism of vessel regression and its role in neuronal function in the adult brain.
All protein aggregates will thermodynamically order
Authors: Nielsen Aleksandra W. , Sari Levent , Fraser Rowan , Lin Milo M.
Published: September 2020

Proteins can aggregate into disordered liquid droplets or ordered assemblies such as amyloid fibrils. These two distinct phases determine the spatial organization within cells and serve differing roles in a wide range of biological functions including gene regulation, organelle and synapse formation, and memory consolidation. The ordered phase can also give rise to diseases such as Alzheimer’s. However, how the protein sequence determines aggregation fate is an open question. Here we establish a general statistical mechanical theory of the disordered-to-ordered transition for polymer aggregates, including proteins, thereby completing the phase diagram for this general class of matter. The theory produces a simple universal equation determining the favored phase as a function of the temperature, polymer length, and inter-residue interaction energy variance. We show that the sequence-dependent energy variance can be efficiently calculated from all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, so that the theory has no adjustable parameters. The equation accurately predicts the experimental length-dependent crystallization temperature of synthetic polymers. The theory shows that all protein aggregates, regardless of sequence, will thermodynamically order, even in the most extreme thermophiles. Therefore, energy must be expended to maintain the disordered protein aggregate at steady state. More broadly, the theory establishes a lower bound on the ordering transition temperature for polymers. This bound indicates that condensates of any organic polymer will spontaneously order on all habitable planets.
Detection and Molecular Characterization of Rotavirus and Picobirnavirus in Wild Avians from Amazon Forest
Authors: Duarte Júnior José Wandilson Barboza , Nunes Chagas Elaine Hellen , Silva Serra Ana Carolina , Santos Souto Lizandra Caroline dos , Penha Júnior Edvaldo Tavares da , Silva Bandeira Renato da , de Paula Souza e Guimarães Ricardo José , Silva Oliveira Hanna Gabriela da , Sousa Thaymes Kiara Santos , Lopes Cinthia Távora de Albuquerque , Domingues Sheyla Farhayldes Souza , Malik Yashpal Singh , Salvarani Felipe Masiero , Pereira Mascarenhas Joana D’Arc
Published: September 2020

The present study reports the detection and molecular characterization of rotavirus A (RVA), rotavirus D (RVD), rotavirus F (RVF), rotavirus G (RVG) and picobirnavirus (PBV) in fecal specimens of wild and exotic birds (n = 23) from different cities of Pará state, which were hospitalized at Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Pará, Brazil, between January 2018 to June 2019. The animals exhibited different clinical signs, such as diarrhea, malnutrition, dehydration and fractures. The results showed 39.1% (9/23) of positivity for RVA by RT-qPCR. Among these, one sample (1/9) for the NSP3 gene of T2 genotype was characterized. About 88.9% (8/9) for the VP7 gene belonging to G1, equine-like G3 and G6 genotypes, and 55.5% (5/9) for the VP4 gene of P[2] genotype were obtained. In the current study, approximately 4.5% of the samples (1/23) revealed coinfection for the RVA, RVD and RVF groups. Furthermore, picobirnavirus (PBV) was detected in 1 of the 23 samples tested and was classified in the Genogroup I. The findings represent the first report of the circulation of RVA, RVD, RVF, RVG and PBV genotypes in wild birds in Brazil and suggest the possible interspecies transmission of RVs and PBVs.
Status of the pillar coralDendrogyra cylindrusin Los Roques National Park, Southern Caribbean
Authors: Cavada-Blanco F. , Cappelletto J. , Agudo-Adriani E. , Martinez S. , Rodriguez JP. , Croquer A.
Published: September 2020

Information on the status of the pillar coralDendrogyra cylindrusacross its global distribution range is needed to plan and implement effective conservation interventions at both the national and regional level. Knowledge on the species distribution and abundance on the southernmost edge of its range was limited to qualitative data gathered in the 1980s. In 2014, we started using local ecological knowledge and extensive surveys to assess the status of the pillar coral in Archipelago Los Roques National Park, Venezuela; also evaluating the species representativeness within the MPA according to the level of protection established by the park’s zoning. Between 2014 and 2016, we recorded over 1,000 colonies-the highest abundance reported to date for the species- within 14 different habitat types. Disease, bleaching and partial mortality prevalence were below 4%. Size frequency distribution was uni-modal for the MPA and dominated by medium size colonies (40cm -70cm height) suggesting potential for intrinsic population growth. However, the structure of size classes varied among reefs (Pseudo-F=2.70, p=0.03), indicating asynchronous dynamics mostly driven by reef-scale processes. Overall, our results indicate that Los Roques could be a stronghold for the species. But, to maintain the conservation value for coral reefs and the pillar coral, the MPA’s zoning designation needs to be urgently revised and the extension of its high-protection zones expanded to increase habitat redundancy as well as the singular habitats composed by thickets ofAcropora cervicornisand mounds ofMadracissp. This work confirms the species as extant in one of the four localities within its national range in Venezuela. However, further research on genetic diversity and connectivity among reefs within the MPA is needed to estimate effective population size and assess viability.
Development and Comparative Evaluation of Endolysosomal Proximity Labeling-based Proteomic Methods in Human iPSC-derived Neurons
Authors: Frankenfield Ashley M. , Fernandopulle Michael S. , Hasan Saadia , Ward Michael E. , Hao Ling
Published: September 2020

Proximity-basedin situlabeling techniques offer a unique way to capture both stable and transient protein-protein and protein-organelle interactions. Combining this technology with mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics allows us to obtain snapshots of molecular microenvironments with nanometer resolution, facilitating the discovery of complex and dynamic protein networks. However, a number of technical challenges still exist, such as interferences from endogenously biotinylated proteins and other highly abundant bystanders, how to select the proper controls to minimize false discoveries, and experimental variations among biological/technical replicates. Here, we developed a new method to capture the proteomic microenvironment of the neuronal endolysosomal network, by knocking in (KI) an engineered ascorbate peroxidase (APEX) gene to the endogenous locus of lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1). We found that normalizing proximity labeling proteomics data to the endogenously biotinylated protein (PCCA) can greatly reduce variations and enable fair comparisons among different batch of APEX labeling and different APEX probes. We conducted comparative evaluation between this KI-LAMP1-APEX method and our two overexpression LAMP1-APEX probes, achieving complementary coverage of both known and new lysosomal membrane and lysosomal-interacting proteins in human iPSC-derived neurons. To summarize, this study demonstrated new analytical tools to characterize lysosomal functions and microenvironment in human neurons and filled critical gaps in the field for designing and optimizing proximity labeling proteomic experiments.
Ontogenetic changes in sensory gene expression inBicyclus anynanabutterflies
Authors: Ernst David A. , Westerman Erica L.
Published: September 2020

Animal behavior is largely driven by the information that animals are able to extract and process from their environment. However, the function and organization of sensory systems often change throughout ontogeny, particularly in animals that undergo indirect development. As an initial step toward investigating these ontogenetic changes at the molecular level, we characterized the sensory gene repertoire and examined the expression profiles of genes linked to vision and chemosensation in two life stages of an insect that undertakes a dramatic metamorphosis, the butterflyBicyclus anynana. Using RNA-seq, we compared gene expression in the heads of late fifth instar larvae and newly-eclosed adults that were reared under identical conditions. Over 50% of all expressed genes were differentially expressed between the two developmental stages, with 4,046 genes upregulated in larval heads and 4,402 genes upregulated in adult heads. In larvae, upregulated vision-related genes were biased toward those involved with eye development, while phototransduction genes dominated the vision genes that were upregulated in adults. Moreover, the majority of the chemosensory genes we identified in theB. anynanagenome were differentially expressed between larvae and adults, several of which share homology with genes linked to pheromone detection, host plant recognition, and foraging in other species of Lepidoptera. These results reveal promising candidates for furthering our understanding of sensory processing and behavior in the disparate developmental stages of butterflies and other animals that undergo metamorphosis.
hu.MAP 2.0: Integration of over 15,000 proteomic experiments builds a global compendium of human multiprotein assemblies
Authors: Drew Kevin , Wallingford John B. , Marcotte Edward M.
Published: September 2020

A general principle of biology is the self-assembly of proteins into functional complexes. Characterizing their composition is, therefore, required for our understanding of cellular functions. Unfortunately, we lack a comprehensive set of protein complexes for human cells. To address this gap, we developed a machine learning framework to identify protein complexes in over 15,000 mass spectrometry experiments which resulted in the identification of nearly 7,000 physical assemblies. We show our resource, hu.MAP 2.0, is more accurate and comprehensive than previous resources and gives rise to many new hypotheses, including for 274 completely uncharacterized proteins. Further, we identify 259 promiscuous proteins that participate in multiple complexes pointing to possible moonlighting roles. We have made hu.MAP 2.0 easily searchable in a web interface (http://humap2.proteincomplexes.org/), which will be a valuable resource for researchers across a broad range of interests including systems biology, structural biology, and molecular explanations of disease.
Forward genetic screens identified mutants with defects in trap morphogenesis in the nematode-trapping fungusArthrobotrys oligospora
Authors: Huang Tsung-Yu , Lee Yi-Yun , de Ulzurrun Guillermo Vidal-Diez , Hsueh Yen-Ping
Published: September 2020

Nematode-trapping fungi (NTF) are carnivorous fungi that prey on nematodes under nutrient-poor conditions via specialized hyphae that function as traps. The molecular mechanisms involved in the interactions between nematode-trapping fungi and their nematode prey are largely unknown. In this study, we conducted forward genetic screens to identify potential genes and pathways that are involved in trap morphogenesis and predation in the NTFArthrobotrys oligospora.Using Ethyl methanesulfonate and UV as the mutagens, we generated 5552 randomly-mutagenizedA. oligosporastrains and identified 15 mutants with strong defects in trap morphogenesis. Whole genome sequencing and bioinformatic analyses revealed mutations in genes with roles in signaling, transcription or membrane transport that may contribute to the defects of trap morphogenesis in these mutants. We further conducted functional analyses on a candidate gene,YBP-1, and demonstrate that mutation of that gene was causative of the phenotypes observed in one of the mutants. The methods established in this study might provide helpful insights for establishing forward genetic screening methods for other non-model fungal species.
Asprosin Neutralizing Antibodies as a Treatment for Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Mishra Ila , Duerrschmid Clemens , Ku Zhiqiang , Xie Wei , Silva Elizabeth Sabath , Hoffmann Jennifer , Xin Wei , Zhang Ningyan , An Zhiqiang , Chopra Atul R.
Published: September 2020

Recently, we discovered a new glucogenic and centrally-acting orexigenic hormone – asprosin. Asprosin is elevated in metabolic syndrome (MS) patients, and importantly, its genetic loss results in reduced appetite, leanness and robust insulin sensitivity, leading to protection from MS. Here we demonstrate that anti-asprosin monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a dual-effect pharmacologic therapy that targets the two key pillars of MS – over-nutrition and the blood glucose burden. Anti-asprosin mAbs from three distinct species lowered appetite and body weight, and improved blood glucose in a dose-dependent and epitope-agnostic fashion in three independent MS mouse models, with an IC50of ∼1.5 mg/kg. In addition, mAb treatment ameliorated MS associated dyslipidemia and hepatic dysfunction. The mAbs displayed half-life of over 3 days in vivo, with equilibrium dissociation-constants in picomolar to low nanomolar range. This evidence paves the way for further development towards an investigational new drug application and subsequent human trials for treatment of MS, a defining physical ailment of our time.
Behavioral evidence for nested central pattern generator control ofDrosophilagrooming
Authors: Ravbar Primoz , Zhang Neil , Simpson Julie H.
Published: September 2020

Central pattern generators (CPGs) are neurons or neural circuits that produce periodic output without requiring patterned input. More complex behaviors can be assembled from simpler subroutines, and nested CPGs have been proposed to coordinate their repetitive elements, organizing control over different time-scales. Here, we use behavioral experiments to establish thatDrosophilagrooming may be controlled by nested CPGs. On a short time-scale (5-7 Hz), flies execute periodic leg sweeps and rubs. More surprisingly, transitions between bouts of head cleaning and leg rubbing are also periodic on a longer time-scale (0.3 - 0.6 Hz). We examine grooming at a range of temperatures to show that the frequencies of both oscillations increase – a hallmark of CPG control – and also that the two time-scales increase at the same rate, indicating that the nested CPGs may be linked. This relationship also holds when sensory drive is held constant using optogenetic activation, but the rhythms can decouple in spontaneously grooming flies, showing that alternative control modes are possible. Loss of sensory feedback does not disrupt periodicity but slows the longer time-scale alternation. Nested CPGs simplify generation of complex but repetitive behaviors, and identifying them inDrosophilagrooming presents an opportunity to map the neural circuits that constitute them.
Fishing the line depends on reserve benefits, individual losing at boundary and movement preference
Authors: Chen Renfei , Baskett Marissa L. , Hastings Alan
Published: September 2020

Whether fishing around the marine reserve edge can enhance harvested yields is an important issue in fisheries management. To solve the conundrum is difficult because of the lack of a matched boundary condition. Here, we derive a new boundary condition by considering individual losing at habitat boundaries. With the suitable boundary condition, our results suggest that individuals with high growth rate inside but low growth rate outside the reserve and high movement preference to a large marine reserve boundary can enhance yields benefits from fishing around the marine reserve edge. The findings provide theoretical cautions for fishing near some new reserves in which population growth rate might be low. Moreover, our boundary condition is general enough for the universal phenomenon of losing individual at habitat boundaries such as being applied into classic theories in refuge design to explain some previous counter-intuitive phenomena more reasonably.
Engineering a culturableSerratia symbioticastrain for aphid paratransgenesis
Authors: Elston Katherine M. , Perreau Julie , Maeda Gerald P. , Moran Nancy A. , Barrick Jeffrey E.
Published: September 2020

Aphids are global agricultural pests and important models for bacterial symbiosis. To date, none of the native symbionts of aphids have been genetically manipulated, which limits our understanding of how they interact with their hosts.Serratia symbioticaCWBI-2.3Tis a culturable, gut-associated bacterium isolated from the black bean aphid. Closely relatedSerratia symbioticastrains are facultative aphid endosymbionts that are vertically transmitted from mother to offspring during embryogenesis. We demonstrate that CWBI-2.3Tcan be genetically engineered using a variety of techniques, plasmids, and gene expression parts. Then, we use fluorescent protein expression to track the dynamics with which CWBI-2.3Tcolonizes the guts of multiple aphid species, and we measure how this bacterium affects aphid fitness. Finally, we show that we can induce heterologous gene expression from engineered CWBI-2.3Tin living aphids. These results inform the development of CWBI-2.3Tfor aphid paratransgenesis, which could be used to study aphid biology and enable future agricultural technologies.

IMPORTANCE

Insects have remarkably diverse and integral roles in global ecosystems. Many harbor symbiotic bacteria, but very few of these bacteria have been genetically engineered. Aphids are major agricultural pests and an important model system for the study of symbiosis. This work describes methods for engineering a culturable aphid symbiont,Serratia symbioticaCWBI-2.3T. These approaches and genetic tools could be used in the future to implement new paradigms for the biological study and control of aphids.
Disruption of Glial Ca2+Oscillations at theDrosophilaBlood-Brain Barrier Predisposes to Seizure-Like Behavior
Authors: Weiss Shirley , Clamon Lauren C. , Manoim Julia E. , Ormerod Kiel G. , Parnas Moshe , Littleton J. Troy
Published: September 2020

Glia play key roles in regulating multiple aspects of neuronal development and function from invertebrates to humans. We recently found microdomain Ca2+signaling inDrosophilacortex glia and astrocytes regulate extracellular K+buffering and neurotransmitter uptake, respectively. Here we identify a role for ER store-operated Ca2+entry (SOCE) in perineurial glia (PG), a distinct population that contributes to the blood-brain barrier (BBB). PG show a diverse range of Ca2+oscillatory activity that varies based on their locale within the brain. Unlike cortex glia and astrocytes, PG Ca2+oscillations do not require extracellular Ca2+and are blocked by inhibition of SOCE or gap junctions. Disruption of these components triggers heat shock and mechanical-induced seizure-like episodes without effecting PG morphology or large molecule BBB permeability. These findings indicate SOCE-mediated Ca2+oscillations in PG increase the susceptibility of seizure-like episodes inDrosophila, providing an additional link between glial Ca2+signaling and neuronal activity.
Contrasting impacts of urban and farmland cover on flying insect biomass
Authors: Svenningsen Cecilie S. , Bowler Diana E. , Hecker Susanne , Bladt Jesper , Grescho Volker , van Dam Nicole M. , Dauber Jens , Eichenberg David , Ejrnæs Rasmus , Fløjgaard Camilla , Frenzel Mark , Frøslev Tobias Guldberg , Hansen Anders Johannes , Heilmann-Clausen Jacob , Huang Yuanyuan , Larsen Jonas Colling , Menger Juliana , Mat Nayan Nur Liyana Binti , Pedersen Lene Bruhn , Richter Anett , Dunn Robert R. , Tøttrup Anders P. , Bonn Aletta
Published: September 2020

Recent studies report declines in biomass, abundance and diversity of terrestrial insect groups. While anthropogenic land use is one likely contributor to this decline, studies assessing land cover as a driver of insect dynamics are rare and mostly restricted in spatial scale and types of land cover. In this study, we used rooftop-mounted car nets in a citizen science project (‘InsectMobile’) to allow for large-scale geographic sampling of flying insects across Denmark and parts of Germany. Citizen scientists sampled insects along 278 10 km routes in urban, farmland and semi-natural (grassland, wetland and forest) landscapes in the summer of 2018. We assessed the importance of local to landscape-scale effects and land use intensity by relating insect biomass to land cover in buffers of 50, 250, 500 and 1000 m along the routes. We found a negative association of urban cover and a positive association of farmland on insect biomass at a landscape-scale (1000 m buffer) in both countries. In Denmark, we also found positive effects of all semi-natural land covers, i.e. grassland (largest at the landscape-scale, 1000 m), forests (largest at intermediate scales, 250 m), and wetlands (largest at the local-scale, 50 m). The negative association of insect biomass with urban land cover and positive association with farmland were not clearly modified by any variable associated with land use intensity. Our results show that land cover has an impact on flying insect biomass with the magnitude of this effect varying across spatial scales. Since we consistently found negative effects of urban land cover, our findings highlight the need for the conservation of semi-natural areas, such as wetlands, grasslands and forests, in Europe.
Absolute intensity calibration for carbon-edge soft X-ray scattering
Authors: Ferron Thomas , Grabner Devin , McAfee Terry , Collins Brian
Published: September 2020

Resonant soft X-ray scattering (RSOXS) has become a premier probe to study complex three-dimensional nanostructures in soft matter through combining the robust structural characterization of small-angle scattering with the chemical sensitivity of spectroscopy. This technique borrows many of its analysis methods from alternative small-angle scattering measurements that utilize contrast variation, but thus far RSOXS has been unable to reliably achieve an absolute scattering intensity required for quantitative analysis of domain compositions, volume fraction, or interfacial structure. Here, a novel technique to calibrate RSOXS to an absolute intensity at the carbon absorption edge is introduced. It is shown that the X-ray fluorescence from a thin polymer film can be utilized as an angle-independent scattering standard. Verification of absolute intensity is then accomplished through measuring the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter in a phase-mixed polymer melt. The necessary steps for users to reproduce this intensity calibration in their own experiments to improve the scientific output from RSOXS measurements are discussed.
Crystal structure of XCC3289 from Xanthomonas campestris: homology with the N-terminal substrate-binding domain of Lon peptidase
Authors: Singh Rahul , Deshmukh Sonali , Kumar Ashwani , Goyal Venuka Durani , Makde Ravindra D.
Published: September 2020

LonA peptidase is a major component of the protein quality-control mechanism in both prokaryotes and the organelles of eukaryotes. Proteins homologous to the N-terminal domain of LonA peptidase, but lacking its other domains, are conserved in several phyla of prokaryotes, including the Xanthomonadales order. However, the function of these homologous proteins (LonNTD-like proteins) is not known. Here, the crystal structure of the LonNTD-like protein from Xanthomonas campestris (XCC3289; UniProt Q8P5P7) is reported at 2.8 Å resolution. The structure was solved by molecular replacement and contains one polypeptide in the asymmetric unit. The structure was refined to an R
free of 29%. The structure of XCC3289 consists of two domains joined by a long loop. The N-terminal domain (residues 1–112) consists of an α-helix surrounded by β-sheets, whereas the C-terminal domain (residues 123–193) is an α-helical bundle. The fold and spatial orientation of the two domains closely resembles those of the N-terminal domains of the LonA peptidases from Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium avium. The structure is also similar to that of cereblon, a substrate-recognizing component of the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. The N-terminal domains of both LonA and cereblon are known to be involved in specific protein–protein interactions. This structural analysis suggests that XCC3289 and other LonNTD-like proteins might also be capable of such protein–protein interactions.
Chemical, functional, pasting and sensory properties of custard from refrigerated cassava root
Authors: Ogundele Opeolu M. , Muazu Sefia T. , Oyedeji Ajibola B. , Kayitesi Eugénie , Njobeh Patrick B. , Oyeyinka Samson A.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Cassava is a starchy crop with several industrial applications, but it deteriorates very fast after harvest. Refrigeration has been used to extend the storage life of the root and the starch isolated from the stored roots characterized. Hence, the purpose of this research is to investigate the chemical, functional, pasting and sensory properties of custard prepared from starch isolated from refrigerated cassava root.

Design/methodology/approach

Freshly harvest cassava root were cleaned and stored in a refrigerator operating at 4 °C for a period of one, two and three weeks. Starch was extracted from the fresh and stored roots using established method and custard prepared from each of the starch sample. The custard sample was analysed for amylose content, functional, pasting and sensory properties.

Findings

Amylose content in the pastes varied significantly from 18.45 to 25.45%. Refrigeration showed a significant impact on the swelling power of the custard, which could be linked to variation in amylose content. Colour and textural properties of the custard were similar across the samples suggesting a minimal impact of refrigeration on the isolated starch. Refrigerated cassava roots can produce acceptable custard with minimal changes in sensory properties if the storage period is closely monitored.

Originality/value

In a previous study, the authors have shown that starch and cooked paste may be made from stored cassava roots without substantial changes in the quality of these products. This study further confirms the possibility of using starch from the stored roots in food applications such as in custard formulation. No report has documented the properties of custard from starch obtained from refrigerated cassava root.
“Donate to help combat COVID-19!” How typeface affects the effectiveness of CSR marketing?
Authors: Huang Huiling , Liu Stephanie Q.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) marketing has become ubiquitous in the hospitality industry. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of donation appeals containing warmth-focused versus competence-focused messages in hospitality CSR marketing. Moreover, we offer an innovative visual design strategy focusing on the typeface (handwritten vs machine-written) in donation appeals to encourage consumers’ donations and boost their brand loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

This research used a 2 (message framing: warmth-focused vs competence-focused) × 2 (typeface: handwritten vs machine-written) between-subjects experimental design.

Findings

The findings suggest that donation appeals featuring warmth-focused messages combined with handwritten typeface and competence-focused messages combined with machine-written typeface can maximize donation intention and brand loyalty. Furthermore, results from the moderated mediation analyses indicate that brand trust is the psychological mechanism underlying these effects.

Practical implications

Hospitality managers should use typeface design, which is easy and inexpensive to manipulate, to enhance the effectiveness of CSR marketing. Specifically, for donation appeals featuring warmth-focused (competence-focused) messages, the handwritten (machine-written) typeface can boost consumers’ donation intention and brand loyalty.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first to reveal the competitive advantage of typeface design in hospitality CSR marketing. This research sheds light on the congruency effects of message framing and typeface design in donation appeals on consumers’ donation intention and brand loyalty while using the contemporary context of The Coronavirus Disease 2019 to test the theory.
ICT, social media and COVID-19: evidence from informal home-based business community in Kuwait City
Authors: Saleh Yasser
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide information on the importance of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and social media for the development of informal home-based business (HBBs) community in Kuwait City.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is used as a qualitative methodology, which helps the researcher to come to original and direct quotations about the HBBs owners’ thoughts and experiences. In this paper, a multi case-based approach was used, respectively, we have used 14 cases, where 7 operate in the food sector and 7 in the entertainment/game sector. All these informal HBBs are located in Kuwait City.

Findings

The results of the research showed that the respondents use Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, email and websites to communicate with customers and cooperate with business partners. Banks’ applications, such as “Edfali”, are used for doing the payments related to the business. Home-based owners are usually motivated by passion and love for the business, independence, additional source of income, succeeding in a family business, hobby or not finding an appropriate job in other companies.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had the opportunity to interview only 14 HBBs and only from two sectors, the food and entertainment/game sector. Further research can be done with more cases and more sectors to see how ICTs and social media help these businesses to develop their activity and spread the business in different places.

Practical implications

This paper provides useful information on the role of ICTs and social media for the informal HBBs, especially during the crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It might help business owners to prepare adequate strategies to cope with difficult situations and create better conditions for their businesses.

Originality/value

This paper is the first research that treats the informal HBB community in Kuwait City. It could serve as a good base for further studies related to the impact of ICTs and social media on the business performance.
Financial inclusion determinants and impediments in India: insights from the global financial inclusion index
Authors: Dar Arif Billah , Ahmed Farid
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the determinants of financial inclusion and the determinants of barriers to financial inclusion in India. Also, the purpose is to ascertain the determinants of informal financial activities in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The data have been collected from the Global Findex Database (Findex) 2017. Various measures of financial inclusion, namely, ownership formal accounts, use of accounts for saving and borrowing, ownership and use of the debit card are used. The independent variables used are: age, income, education and gender. Given the binary nature of dependent variables, this paper uses the Probit model to draw the inferences.

Findings

The results show that gender, age, education and income have a significant impact on the various measures of financial inclusion. Additionally, these factors have a significant impact on the informal saving and borrowing.

Research limitations/implications

The given study uses the deferent measures of financial inclusion. An index of financial inclusion created using all the financial inclusion measures would be a better indicator of financial inclusion.

Practical implications

The results of this study would be useful for policymakers to identify the determinants and barriers of financial inclusion in India. The results show that policymakers should focus on the female population, in particular, and education and income enhancing measures, in general, to make financial inclusion more inclusive.

Originality/value

The study is the first of its kind to analyze financial inclusion in India using the Findex. Unlike previous studies, variables such as education and income are constructed more pragmatically. In particular, the study tries to understand the socio-economic determinants of financial inclusion measured as ownership of formal accounts, formal saving, formal credit, ownership of debit cards and use of debit cards. The study also analyzes the determinants of barriers to financial inclusion, savings (formal and informal) and borrowing (formal and informal).
An implicit-explicit examination of differences in CSR practices between the USA and Europe
Authors: LaGore William , Mahoney Lois , Thorne Linda
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to validate the Matten and Moon (2008) implicit-explicit corporate social responsibility (CSR) model by examining whether the respective differences in CSR practices between Europe and the USA reflect their respective societal expectations.

Design/methodology/approach

The principal component analysis is used to develop an innovative societal expectations index (SEI). This study tests the relationship between SEI and CSR through panel data andt-tests.

Findings

The empirical findings show a significant association between the SEI and all forms of CSR, which provides empirical support for Matten’s and Moon’s implicit-explicit framework.

Originality/value

This study is the first to develop an SEI to validate the Matten and Moon (2008) model that predicts implicit countries would adopt and conform to broader societal expectations for CSR, and therefore be more likely to embrace CSR activities than their counterparts in explicit countries.
Putative degraders of low‐density polyethylene‐derived compounds are ubiquitous members of plastic‐associated bacterial communities in the marine environment
Authors: Pinto Maria , Polania Zenner Paula , Langer Teresa M. , Harrison Jesse , Simon Meinhard , Varela Marta M. , Herndl Gerhard J.
Published: September 2020

It remains unknown whether and to what extent marine prokaryotic communities are capable of degrading plastic in the ocean. To address this knowledge gap, we combined enrichment experiments employing low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) as the sole carbon source with a comparison of bacterial communities on plastic debris in the Pacific, the North Atlantic and the northern Adriatic Sea. A total of 35 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were enriched in the LDPE‐laboratory incubations after 1 year, of which 20 were present with relative abundances > 0.5% in at least one plastic sample collected from the environment. From these, OTUs classified as Cognatiyoonia, Psychrobacter, Roseovarius and Roseobacter were found in the communities of plastics collected at all oceanic sites. Additionally, OTUs classified as Roseobacter, Pseudophaeobacter, Phaeobacter, Marinovum and Cognatiyoonia, also enriched in the LDPE‐laboratory incubations, were enriched on LDPE communities compared to the ones associated to glass and polypropylene in in‐situ incubations in the northern Adriatic Sea after 1 month of incubation. Some of these enriched OTUs were also related to known alkane and hydrocarbon degraders. Collectively, these results demonstrate that there are prokaryotes capable of surviving with LDPE as the sole carbon source living on plastics in relatively high abundances in different water masses of the global ocean.