bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The lack of myelin in the mutanttaieprat induces a differential immune response related to protection to the human parasiteTrichinella spiralis
Authors: Nava-Castro Karen Elizabeth , Cortes Carmen , Eguibar José Ramón , Del Rio-Araiza Víctor Hugo , Hernández-Bello Romel , Morales-Montor Jorge 
Published: April 2020

AbstractTaieprat is a myelin mutant with a progressive motor syndrome characterized by tremor, ataxia, immobility episodes, epilepsy and paralysis of the hindlimbs, accompanied with differential expression of interleukins and their receptors that correlated with the progressive demyelination that characterize this mutant. Thus, thetaieprat is a suitable model to study neuroimmune alterations. The aim of this study was to investigate the immune alterations present in the mutanttaieprat during the acute infection withTrichinella spiralis. Our results show that there is an important decrease in the number of intestinal larvae in thetaieprat when compared to the Sprague-Dawley control rats. We also found differences in the percentage of innate and adaptive immune cell profile in the mesenteric lymphatic nodes and the spleen associated to the lack of myelin in thetaieprat. Finally, a clear pro-inflammatory cytokine pattern was seen in the infectedtaieprat, which may explain the decrease in larvae number. These results sustain the theory that neuroimmune interaction is a fundamental process capable of modulating the immune response, particularly against the parasiteTrichinella spiralisin a model of progressive demyelination that could be an important mechanism in autoimmune diseases and parasite infection.Author summaryThe complex communication among the brain and the immune system may be certainly altered during an infection and may be determinant in the resolution of this. We analyze the immune response to a parasite in a rat model in which a demyelinization process occur naturally and found that parasite loads were reduced when comparing with control subjects and this was accompanied to changes in the systemic immune response.
Lactobacilli and other gastrointestinal microbiota of Peromyscus leucopus, reservoir host for agents of Lyme disease and other zoonoses in North America
Authors: Milovic Ana , Bassam Khalil , Shao Hanjuan , Chatzistamou Ioulia , Tufts Danielle M. , Diuk-Wasser Maria , Barbour Alan G. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe cricetine rodent Peromyscus leucopus is an important reservoir for several human zoonoses, including Lyme disease, in North America. Akin to hamsters, the white-footed deermouse has been unevenly characterized in comparison to the murid Mus musculus. To further understanding of P. leucopus’ total genomic content, we investigated gut microbiomes of an outbred colony of P. leucopus, inbred M. musculus, and a natural population of P. leucopus. Metagenome and whole genome sequencing were combined with microbiology and microscopy approaches. A focus was the genus Lactobacillus, four diverse species of which were isolated from forestomach and feces of colony P. leucopus. Three of the species--L. animalis, L. reuteri, and provisionally-named species “L. peromysci”--were identified in fecal metagenomes of wild P. leucopus but not discernibly in samples from M. musculus. L. johnsonii, the fourth species, was common in M. musculus but absent or sparse in wild P. leucopus. Also identified in both colony and natural populations were a Helicobacter sp. in feces but not stomach, and a Tritrichomonas sp. protozoan in cecum or feces. The gut metagenomes of colony P. leucopus were similar to those of colony M. musculus at the family or higher level and for major subsystems. But there were multiple differences between species and sexes within each species in their gut metagenomes at orthologous gene level. These findings provide a foundation for hypothesis-testing of functions of individual microbial species and for interventions, such as bait vaccines based on an autochthonous bacterium and targeting P. leucopus for transmission-blocking.
C. elegansCLASP/CLS-2 negatively regulates membrane ingression throughout the oocyte cortex and is required for polar body extrusion
Authors: Schlientz Aleesa J. , Bowerman Bruce 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe requirements for oocyte meiotic cytokinesis during polar body extrusion are not well understood. In particular, the relationship between the oocyte meiotic spindle and polar body contractile ring dynamics remains largely unknown. We have used live cell imaging and spindle assembly defective mutants lacking the function of CLASP/CLS-2, kinesin-12/KLP-18, or katanin/MEI-1 to investigate the relationship between meiotic spindle structure and polar body extrusion inC. elegansoocytes. We show that spindle bipolarity and chromosome segregation are not required for polar body contractile ring formation and chromosome extrusion inklp-18mutants, but oocytes with severe spindle assembly defects due to loss of CLS-2 or MEI-1 have penetrant and distinct polar body extrusion defects: CLS-2 is required early for contractile ring assembly or stability, while MEI-1 is required later for contractile ring constriction. We also show that CLS-2 negatively regulates membrane ingression throughout the oocyte cortex during meiosis I, and we explore the relationship between global cortical dynamics and oocyte meiotic cytokinesis.Author SummaryThe precursor cells that produce gametes—sperm and eggs in animals—have two copies of each chromosome, one from each parent. These precursors undergo specialized cell divisions that leave each gamete with only one copy of each chromosome; defects that produce incorrect chromosome number cause severe developmental abnormalities. In oocytes, these cell divisions are highly asymmetric, with extra chromosomes discarded into small membrane bound polar bodies, leaving one chromosome set within the much larger oocyte. How oocytes assemble the contractile apparatus that pinches off polar bodies remains poorly understood. To better understand this process, we have used the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegansto investigate the relationship between the bipolar structure that separates oocyte chromosomes, called the spindle, and assembly of the contractile apparatus that pinches off polar bodies. We used a comparative approach, examining this relationship in three spindle assembly defective mutants. Bipolar spindle assembly and chromosome separation were not required for polar body extrusion, as it occurred normally in mutants lacking a protein called KLP-18. However, mutants lacking the protein CLS-2 failed to assemble the contractile apparatus, while mutants lacking the protein MEI-1 assembled a contractile apparatus that failed to fully constrict. We also found that CLS-2 down-regulates membrane ingression throughout the oocyte surface, and we explored the relationship between oocyte membrane dynamics and polar body extrusion.
The Mechanosensitive Ion Channel MSL10 Potentiates Responses to Cell Swelling in Arabidopsis Seedlings
Authors: Basu Debarati , Haswell Elizabeth S. 
Published: April 2020

SUMMARYThe ability to respond to unanticipated increases in volume is a fundamental property of cells, essential for cellular integrity in the face of osmotic challenges. Plants must manage cell swelling during flooding, rehydration, and pathogenesis–but little is known about the mechanisms by which this occurs. It has been proposed that plant cells could sense and respond to cell swelling through the action of mechanosensitive ion channels. Here we develop and characterize a new assay to study the effects of cell swelling onArabidopsis thalianaseedlings and to test the contributions of the mechanosensitive ion channel MscS-Like10 (MSL10). The assay incorporates both cell wall softening and hypo-osmotic treatment to induce cell swelling. We show that MSL10 is required for previously demonstrated responses to hypo-osmotic shock, including a cytoplasmic calcium transient within the first few seconds, accumulation of ROS within the first 30 minutes, and increased transcript levels of mechano-inducible genes within 60 minutes. We also show that cell swelling induces programmed cell death within 3 hours, also in a MSL10-dependent manner. Finally, we show that MSL10 is unable to potentiate cell swelling-induced death when phosphomimetic residues are introduced into its soluble N-terminus. Thus, MSL10 functions as a phospho-regulated membrane-based sensor that connects the perception of cell swelling to a downstream signaling cascade and programmed cell death.
Gain of channel function and modified gating properties in TRPM3 mutants causing intellectual disability and epilepsy
Authors: Van Hoeymissen Evelien , Held Katharina , Nogueira Freitas Ana Cristina , Janssens Annelies , Voets Thomas , Vriens Joris 
Published: April 2020

AbstractDevelopmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE) are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by epilepsy with comorbid intellectual disability. Recently, twode novoheterozygous mutations in the gene encoding TRPM3, a calcium permeable ion channel, were identified as the cause of DEE in eight probands, but the functional consequences of the mutations remained elusive. Here we demonstrate that both mutations (V990M and P1090Q) have distinct effects on TRPM3 gating, including increased basal activity, higher sensitivity to stimulation by the endogenous neurosteroid pregnenolone sulphate (PS) and heat, and altered response to ligand modulation. Most strikingly, the V990M mutation affected the gating of the non-canonical pore of TRPM3, resulting in large inward cation currents via the voltage sensor domain in response to PS stimulation. Taken together, these data indicate that the two DEE mutations in TRPM3 result in a profound gain of channel function, which may lie at the basis of epileptic activity and neurodevelopmental symptoms in the patients.
Emission rates of species-specific volatiles change across communities ofClarkiaspecies: Evidence for character displacement in floral scent
Authors: Eisen Katherine E. , Geber Monica A. , Raguso Robert A. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractA current frontier of character displacement research is to determine if displacement occurs via multiple phenotypic pathways and varies across communities with different species compositions. Here, we conducted the first test for context-dependent character displacement in multimodal floral signals by analyzing variation in floral scent in a system that exhibits character displacement in flower size, and that has multiple types of sympatric communities. In a greenhouse common garden experiment, we measured quantitative variation in volatile emission rates of the progeny of two species ofClarkiafrom replicated communities that contain one, two, or fourClarkiaspecies. The first two axes of a constrained correspondence analysis, which explained 24 percent of the total variation in floral scent, separated the species and community types, respectively. Of the 23 compounds that were significantly correlated with these axes, nine showed patterns consistent with character displacement. Two compounds produced primarily byC. unguiculataand two compounds produced primarily byC. cylindricawere emitted in higher amounts in sympatry. Character displacement in some volatiles varied across sympatric communities and occurred in parallel with displacement in flower size, demonstrating that this evolutionary process can be context-dependent and may occur through multiple pathways.
Characterizing chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and monocytopenia through mathematical modelling
Authors: Cassidy Tyler , Humphries Antony R. , Craig Morgan , Mackey Michael C. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn spite of the recent focus on the development of novel targeted drugs to treat cancer, cytotoxic chemotherapy remains the standard treatment for the vast majority of patients. Unfortunately, chemotherapy is associated with high hematopoietic toxicity that may limit its efficacy. We have previously established potential strategies to mitigate chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (a lack of circulating neutrophils) using a mechanistic model of granulopoiesis to predict the interactions defining the neutrophil response to chemotherapy and to define optimal strategies for concurrent chemotherapy/prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Here, we extend our analyses to include monocyte production by constructing and parameterizing a model of monocytopoiesis. Using data for neutrophil and monocyte concentrations during chemotherapy in a large cohort of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients, we leveraged our model to determine the relationship between the monocyte and neutrophil nadirs during cyclic chemotherapy. We show that monocytopenia precedes neutropenia by 3 days, and rationalize the use of G-CSF during chemotherapy by establishing that the onset of monocytopenia can be used as a clinical marker for G-CSF dosing post-chemotherapy. This work therefore has important clinical applications as a comprehensive approach to understanding the relationship between monocyte and neutrophils after cyclic chemotherapy with or without G-CSF support.
Resolving host and species boundaries for perithecia-producing nectriaceous fungi across the central Appalachian Mountains
Authors: Stauder Cameron M. , Utano Nicole M. , Kasson Matt T. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe Nectriaceae contains numerous canker pathogens. Due to scarcity of ascomata on many hosts, comprehensive surveys are lacking. Here we characterize the diversity of perithecia-producing nectriaceous fungi across the central Appalachians. Ten species from twelve hosts were recovered including a novelCorinectriasp. fromPicea rubens. Neonectria ditissimaandN. faginatawere most abundant and associated withFagus grandifoliawith beech bark disease (BBD).N. ditissimawas also recovered from additional cankered hardwoods, including previously unreportedAcer spicatum, Ilex mucronata, andSorbus americana. Cross-pathogenicity inoculations ofN. ditissimaconfirmed susceptibility ofAcerandBetulaspp.Neonectria magnoliaewas recovered from cankeredLiriodendron tulipiferaandMagnolia fraseriand pathogenicity onL. tulipiferawas confirmed.Fusarium babindawas consistently recovered from beech with BBD, although its role remains unclear. This survey provides a contemporary snapshot of Nectriaceae diversity across the Appalachian Mountains. The following nomenclatural changes are proposed:Neonectria magnoliaecomb. nov.
Prey choice of the common vampire bat on introduced species in an Atlantic forest land-bridge island
Authors: Gonçalves Fernando , Magioli Marcelo , Bovendorp Ricardo S. , de Barros Ferraz Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi , Cagnoni Letícia Bulascoschi , Moreira Marcelo Zacharias , Galetti Mauro 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe proliferation of native, alien, invasive and domestic species provide novel and abundant food resources for the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) that could alter its prey preference. Based on the analysis of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes, we report the prey choice of D. rotundus on introduced mammals in an tropical land-bridge island where the domestic animals were removed and 100 individuals of 15 mammal species were intentionally introduced. Our analysis shows that, D. rotundus on Anchieta Island were more likely to prey upon species from open habitats (mean value of −14.8‰), i.e., animals with high δ13C values characterized by the consumption of C4 resources. As expected for a top predator species, δ15N values for D. rotundus were higher (mean value of 8.2‰) and overlapped the niche of the capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) from the Anchieta Island, while it was distant from coatis, and also from those potential prey from the preserved area in the mainland, including the capybaras, indicating that among all potential mammalian prey species, they fed exclusively on capybaras, the highest mammalian biomass on island. Based on previous information on human occupation, the domestic animals present on Anchieta island might be the main prey of D. rotundus and responsible for maintaining a viable population. As the capybaras were introduced only 36 years ago, this suggests a rapid prey shift due to anthropogenic disturbances, which has allowed common vampire bats to successfully exploit them. Literature records also show that common vampire bats were not captured in preserved areas of the mainland which are near Anchieta Island indicating that the percentage of capture of D. rotundus is usually low in natural forested habitats where potential prey are scattered. As three individuals of introduced capybaras were confirmed died from bat rabies viruses (RABV) in 2020, we suggest periodic monitoring of bat rabies viruses in common vampire bat populations on Anchieta Island and areas nearby, in order to quantify the magnitude of the outbreak area and develop strategies for controlling, especially considering that the island and areas nearby is frequently visited by tourists. We highlighted that this prey choice is context-dependent, and possibly influenced by the removal of domestic animals, the explosive population growth of introduced capybaras combined with their predictable foraging behavior.
Mechanical and chemical activation of GPR68 (OGR1) probed with a genetically-encoded fluorescent reporter
Authors: Ozkan Alper D , Gettas Tina , Sogata Audrey , Phaychanpheng Wynn , Lacroix Jérôme J 
Published: April 2020

AbstractG-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) 68 (GPR68, or OGR1) couples extracellular acidifications and mechanical stimuli to G protein signaling and plays important roles in vascular physiology, neuroplasticity and cancer progression. Here, we designed a genetically-encoded fluorescent reporter of GPR68 activation called “iGlow”. iGlow responds to known GPR68 activators including fluid shear stress, extracellular pH and the synthetic agonist ogerin. Remarkably, iGlow activation occurred from both primary cilia-like structures and from intracellular vesicles, showing iGlow senses extracellular flow from within the cell. Flow-induced iGlow activation is not eliminated by pharmacological modulation of G protein signaling, disruption of actin filaments, or the presence of GsMTx4, a non-specific inhibitor of mechanosensitive ion channels. Genetic deletion of the conserved Helix 8, proposed to mediate GPCR mechanosensitivity, did not eliminate flow-induced iGlow activation, suggesting GPR68 uses a hitherto unkonwn, Helix8-independent mechanism to sense mechanical stimuli. iGlow will be useful to investigate the contribution of GPR68-mediated mechanotransduction in health and diseases.
Rapid stimulus-driven modulation of slow ocular position drifts
Authors: Malevich Tatiana , Buonocore Antimo , Hafed Ziad M. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe eyes are never still during maintained gaze fixation. When microsaccades are not occurring, ocular position exhibits continuous slow changes, often referred to as drifts. Unlike microsaccades, drifts remain to be viewed as largely random eye movements. Here we found that ocular position drifts can, instead, be very systematically stimulus-driven, and with very short latencies. We used highly precise eye tracking in three well trained macaque monkeys and found that even fleeting (~8 ms duration) stimulus presentations can robustly trigger transient and stimulus-specific modulations of ocular position drifts, and with only approximately 60 ms latency. Such drift responses are binocular, and they are most effectively elicited with large stimuli of low spatial frequency. Intriguingly, the drift responses exhibit some image pattern selectivity, and they are not explained by convergence responses, pupil constrictions, head movements, or starting eye positions. Ocular position drifts have very rapid access to exogenous visual information.
Membrane Proteins Have Distinct Fast Internal Motion and Residual Conformational Entropy
Authors: O’Brien Evan S. , Fuglestad Brian , Lessen Henry J. , Stetz Matthew A. , Lin Danny W. , Marques Bryan S. , Gupta Kushol , Fleming Karen G. , Wand A. Joshua 
Published: April 2020

AbstractFor a variety of reasons, the internal motions of integral membrane proteins have largely eluded comprehensive experiential characterization. Here, the fast side chain dynamics of the 7-transmembrane helix protein sensory rhodopsin II and the beta-barrel bacterial outer membrane channel protein W have been characterized in lipid bilayers and detergent micelles by solution NMR relaxation techniques. Though of quite different topologies, both proteins are found to have a similar and striking distribution of methyl-bearing amino acid side chain motion that is independent of membrane mimetic. The methyl-bearing side chains of both proteins, on average, are more dynamic in the ps-ns time regime than any soluble protein characterized to date. Approximately one third of methyl-bearing side chains exhibit extreme rotameric averaging on this timescale. Accordingly, both proteins retain an extraordinary residual conformational entropy in the folded state, which provides a counterbalance to the absence of the hydrophobic effect that normally stabilizes the folded state of water-soluble proteins. Furthermore, the large reservoir of conformational entropy that is observed provides the potential to greatly influence the thermodynamics underlying a plethora of membrane protein functions including ligand binding, allostery and signaling.
Auditory beat perception is related to speech output fluency in post-stroke aphasia
Authors: Stefaniak James D. , Lambon Ralph Matthew A. , De Dios Perez Blanca , Griffiths Timothy D. , Grube Manon 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAphasia affects at least one third of stroke survivors, and there is increasing awareness that more fundamental deficits in auditory processing might contribute to impaired language performance in such individuals. We performed a comprehensive battery of psychoacoustic tasks assessing the perception of tone pairs and sequences across the domains of pitch, rhythm and timbre in 17 individuals with post-stroke aphasia and 17 controls. At the group level, we showed a significant difference in auditory perception in only one test (Dynamic Modulation detection). At the level of individual differences we demonstrated a correlation between metrical pattern (beat) perception and speech output fluency with strong effect (Spearman’s rho = 0.72). This was specific in terms of the auditory tests and dissociated from more basic auditory timing perception, which did not correlate with output fluency. This was also specific in terms of the language and cognitive measures, amongst which phonological, semantic and executive function did not correlate with beat detection. We interpret the data in terms of a requirement for the analysis of the metrical structure of sound to construct fluent output, with both being a function of higher-order “temporal scaffolding”. The beat perception task herein allows measurement of timing analysis without any need to account for motor output deficit, and could be a potential clinical tool to examine this. This work suggests strategies to improve fluency after stroke by training in metrical pattern perception.