bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tick-borne pathogens identified inHyalomma marginatum(Acari: Ixodidae) collected from various vertebrate hosts in the South of France
Authors: Célia Bernard , Thomas Pollet , Clémence Galon , Charlotte Joly Kukla , Vincent Cicculli , Alessandra Falchi , Sebastien Grech-Angelini , Paul-Eric Poli , Matthieu Bastien , Benoit Combes , Sara Moutailler , Philippe Holzmuller , Laurence Vial 
Published: March 2024

AbstractHyalomma marginatumis a common ectoparasitic tick of ungulates, lagomorphs, insectivores, ground-foraging birds, observed in Corsica for decades, but whose permanent establishment in mainland France is very recent. This species is known to be one of the main vectors of the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus, but also of various parasitic, bacterial or viral pathogens. In this study, we investigated the molecular infection rates of numerous tick-borne pathogens inH. marginatumticks mainly sampled on horses, and occasionally on other animal species, from the French Mediterranean rim and Corsica between 2016 and 2020. In total, 1, 195 DNA and RNA purified from individual ticks or pools of ticks were screened for 26 microbial genera or species (viruses, bacteria and parasites), using a high-throughput microfluidic real-time PCR system (BioMark™ dynamic array system, Standard Biotools). For individual ticks and pooled ones, respectively, the most prevalent tick-borne microorganisms wereFrancisella-like endosymbionts at 97.0% and 96.8%, followed byRickettsia aeschlimannii(76.4% and 96.4%),Theileriaspp. andTheileria equi(3,5% and 0%; 1,9% and 5,8%),Anaplasma phagocytophilum(3.7% and 6.7%), and West Nile virus (0.1% and 0.4%).Babesia occultans(0.9%),Ehrlichia minasensis(0.3%), andCoxiella-like endosymbionts (0.1%) were only detected in individual ticks. Our study provides an overview of the diversity of microorganisms and tick-borne pathogens detected in the invasive tickH. marginatumin Corsica and the continental departments of the Mediterranean rim. Our study opens up new research perspectives on the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens carried byH. marginatumand on the associated public and veterinary health risks.
Cellulose fermentation by the gut microbiota is likely not essential for the nutrition of millipedes
Authors: Nweze Julius Eyiuche , Gupta Shruti , Salcher Michaela M. , Šustr Vladimír , Horváthová Terézia , Angel Roey 
Published: March 2024

AbstractMillipedes are thought to depend on their gut microbiome for processing plant-litter-cellulose through fermentation, similar to many other arthropods. However, this hypothesis lacks sufficient evidence. To investigate this, we disrupted the gut microbiota of juvenileEpibolus pulchripes(tropical, CH4-emitting) andGlomeris connexa(temperate, non-CH4-emitting) using chemical inhibitors and isotopic labelling. Feeding the millipedes sterile or antibiotics-treated litter notably reduced faecal production and microbial load without major impacts on survival or weight. Bacterial diversity remained similar, withBacteroidotadominant inE. pulchripesandPseudomonadotainG. connexa. Sodium-2-bromoethanesulfonate treatment halted CH4emissions and reduced the faecalmcrAcopies inE. pulchripesafter 14 days, but emissions resumed after returning to normal feeding. Methanogens in the orderMethanobacterialesandMethanomasscilliicoccalesassociated with protists were detected using Catalysed Reporter Deposition FluorescenceIn situHybridization (CARD-FISH) on day 21, despite suppressed CH4-emission. Employing13C-labeled leaf litter and RNA-SIP revealed a slow and gradual prokaryote labelling, indicating a significant density shift only by day 21. In addition to labelling of taxa from orders well-recognized for their role in (ligno)cellulose fermentation (e.g.,Bacteroidales,Burkholderiales, andEnterobacterales), others, such as members ofDesulfovibrionaleswere also labelled. Surprisingly, labelling of the fungal biomass was somewhat quicker. Our findings suggest that fermentation by the gut microbiota is likely not essential for the millipede’s nutrition.ImportanceMillipedes (Diplopoda) constitute the third most significant group of detritivores after termites and earthworms, yet they have been comparatively understudied. Traditionally, it was believed that millipedes gain energy from fermenting cellulose using their gut microbiota, similar to wood-feeding termites, but this belief lacks evidence. This study used two model millipede species,Epibolus pulchripes(large, tropical, and methane emitter) andGlomeris connexa(small, temperate, and non-methane emitter) to test this belief. We used chemical manipulation experiments, stable isotope labelling, and DNA sequencing to comprehend the microbiota’s role in the millipede’s nutrition. The findings suggest that cellulose fermentation by the gut microbiota may not be essential for millipede nutrition; instead, bacteriovory and fungivory might be the dominant feeding strategies of millipedes.
A proximity complementation assay to identify small molecules that enhance the traffic of ABCA4 misfolding variants
Authors: Piccolo Davide , Zarouchlioti Christina , Bellingham James , Guarascio Rosellina , Ziaka Kalliopi , Molday Robert S. , Cheetham Michael E. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractABCA4-related-retinopathy is the most common inherited Mendelian eye disorder worldwide, caused by biallelic variants in the ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCA4. To date, over 2,200ABCA4variants have been identified, including missense, nonsense, indels, splice site and deep intronic defects. Notably, more than 60% are missense variants that can lead to protein misfolding, mistrafficking and degradation. Currently no approved therapies target ABCA4. In this study, we demonstrate that ABCA4 misfolding variants are temperature-sensitive and reduced temperature growth (30°C) improves their traffic to the plasma membrane, suggesting the folding of these variants could be rescuable. Consequently, anin vitroplatform was developed for the rapid and robust detection of ABCA4 traffic to the plasma membrane in transiently transfected cells. The system was used to assess selected candidate small molecules that were reported to improve the folding or traffic of other ABC transporters. Two candidates, 4-PBA and AICAR, were identified and validated for their ability to enhance both wild-type ABCA4 and variant trafficking to the cell surface in cell culture. We envision that this platform could serve as a primary screen for more sophisticatedin vitrotesting, enabling the discovery of breakthrough agents to rescue ABCA4 protein defects and mitigate ABCA4-related retinopathy.
Evolution of pH-sensitive transcription termination during adaptation to repeated long-term starvation
Authors: Worthan Sarah B. , McCarthy Robert D. P. , Delaleau Mildred , Stikeleather Ryan , Bratton Benjamin P. , Boudvillain Marc , Behringer Megan G. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractFluctuating environments that consist of regular cycles of co-occurring stress are a common challenge faced by cellular populations. For a population to thrive in constantly changing conditions, an ability to coordinate a rapid cellular response is essential. Here, we identify a mutation conferring an arginine-to-histidine (Arg to His) substitution in the transcription terminator Rho. TherhoR109H mutation frequently arose inE. colipopulations experimentally evolved under repeated long-term starvation conditions, during which feast and famine result in drastic environmental pH fluctuations. Metagenomic sequencing revealed that populations containing therhomutation also possess putative loss-of-function mutations inydcI, which encodes a recently characterized transcription factor associated with pH homeostasis. Genetic reconstructions of these mutations show that therhoallele confers a plastic alkaline-induced reduction of Rho function that, when found in tandem with a ΔydcIallele, leads to intracellular alkalinization and genetic assimilation of Rho mutant function. We further identify Arg to His substitutions at analogous sites inrhoalleles from species originating from fluctuating alkaline environments. Our results suggest that Arg to His substitutions in global regulators of gene expression can serve to rapidly coordinate complex responses through pH sensing and shed light on how cellular populations across the tree of life use environmental cues to coordinate rapid responses to complex, fluctuating environments.
The riboflavin biosynthetic pathway as a novel target for antifungal drugs againstCandidaspecies
Authors: Nysten Jana , Peetermans Arne , Vaneynde Dries , Demuyser Liesbeth , Van Dijck Patrick 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn recent decades, there has been an increase in the occurrence of fungal infections, yet the arsenal of drugs available to fight invasive infections remains very limited. The development of new antifungal agents is hindered by the restricted number of molecular targets that can be exploited, given the shared eukaryotic nature of fungi and their hosts which often leads to host toxicity. In this paper, we examine the riboflavin biosynthetic pathway as a potential novel drug target.Riboflavin is an essential nutrient for all living organisms. Its biosynthetic pathway does not exist in humans, who obtain riboflavin through their diet. Our findings demonstrate that all enzymes in the pathway are essential forCandida albicans,Candida glabrata,andSaccharomyces cerevisiae.Among these enzymes, Rib1 and Rib3 are the most promising targets. Auxotrophic strains, which mimic a drug targeting the biosynthesis pathway, experience rapid mortality in the absence of supplemented riboflavin. Nevertheless, the cells can still take up external riboflavin when supplemented. We identified Orf19.4337 as the riboflavin importer inC. albicansand named it Rut1. We found that Rut1 only facilitates growth at external riboflavin concentrations that exceed the physiological concentrations in the human body, making it unlikely that riboflavin uptake to act as a potential resistance mechanism for a drug targeting the biosynthesis pathway. Interestingly, the uptake system inS. cerevisiaeis more effective than inC. albicansandC. glabrata,enabling an auxotrophicS. cerevisiaestrain to outcompete an auxotrophicC. albicansstrain in lower riboflavin concentrations.ImportanceCandidaspecies are a common cause of invasive fungal infections.Candida albicans,in particular, poses a significant threat to immunocompromised individuals. This opportunistic pathogen typically lives as a commensal on mucosal surfaces of healthy individuals, but it can also cause invasive infections associated with high morbidity and mortality. Currently, there are only three major classes of antifungal drugs available to treat these infections. Additionally, the efficacy of these antifungal agents is restricted by host toxicity, suboptimal pharmacokinetics, a narrow spectrum of activity, intrinsic resistance of fungal species, such asCandida glabrata, to certain drugs, and the acquisition of resistance over time. Therefore, it is crucial to identify new antifungal drug targets with novel modes of action to add to the limited armamentarium.
Single nucleus transcriptomics supports a role for CCNA2-induced human adult cardiomyocyte cytokinesis
Authors: Bouhamida Esmaa , Vadakke-Madathil Sangeetha , Mathiyalagan Prabhu , Ranjan Amaresh K. , Sherman Cherrie D. , Miller Paul E , Ghetti Andre , Abi-Gerges Najah , Chaudhry Hina W. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCyclin A2 (CCNA2) is a master regulatory gene of the cell cycle that is normally silenced in postnatal mammalian cardiomyocytes. We have previously demonstrated that it can induce significant cardiac repair in both small and large animals when delivered to the heart via a viral vector. To date, whether CCNA2 gene delivery can induce cytokinesis in isolated cardiomyocytes from adult human hearts has not been investigated. Therefore, we designed a human gene therapy vector featuring a replication-deficient, E1/E3-deleted human adenovirus five encoding human CCNA2 driven by the cardiac Troponin T promoter to enable the expression of CCNA2 in freshly isolated human cardiomyocytes. Utilizing time-lapse microscopy live imaging of cultured adult human cardiomyocytes isolated from a 21-year-old male, 41-year-old female, and 55-year-old male, we now report that human adult cardiomyocytes can be induced to undergo complete cytokinesis in response to CCNA2 gene delivery with preservation of sarcomere integrity in the resulting daughter cells. To elucidate the mechanistic underpinnings of CCNA2-dependent gene regulation in governing cardiomyocyte cytokinesis, we conducted single nucleus transcriptomics (snRNA-seq, 10X Genomics) analysis in hearts isolated from adult transgenic mice that constitutively express CCNA2 in cardiomyocytes (CCNA2-Tg) and non-transgenic mice (nTg). Remarkably, we identified a subpopulation of cardiomyocytes enriched with cytokinesis, proliferative, and reprogramming genes in hearts obtained from CCNA2-Tg mice as compared to hearts obtained from nTg mice. We also performed bulk RNA sequencing of human adult and fetal hearts, and we identified key reprogramming genes that are involved in CCNA2-induced cytokinesis. These results provide a compelling path forward for the clinical development of cardiac regenerative therapy based on strategic manipulation of the cardiomyocyte cell cycle.Graphical AbstractCCNA2 gene expression in primary adult cardiomyocytes induces cytokinesis while eliciting expression of proliferative and reprogramming genes in both humans and mice.
Media-induced emotions and message sidedness in corporate crises
Authors: Kong Sining , Tao Weiting , Chen Zifei Fay 
Published: March 2024

PurposeThis study examines the interplay between media-induced emotional crisis framing (anger vs sadness) and message sidedness of crisis response on publics’ attribution of crisis responsibility as well as subsequent company evaluation and supportive behavioral intention.Design/methodology/approachA 2 (emotion: anger vs sadness) x 2 (crisis response: one-sided vs two-sided) online experiment was conducted among 161 participants in the USA.FindingsResults showed that anger-inducing media framing of the crisis elicited higher levels of crisis responsibility attribution and more negative company evaluation, compared with sadness-inducing media framing. One-sided message response was more effective than two-sided message response in lowering attribution of crisis responsibility when sadness was induced, but no difference was found under the anger-induced condition. Attribution of crisis responsibility fully mediated the effects of emotional crisis framing on company evaluation and supportive behavioral intention toward the company.Originality/valueThis study is among the first to examine the interaction effect between emotional media framing and response message sidedness in an ambiguous crisis. Drawing on the interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks, this study integrates the situational crisis communication theory, appraisal-tendency framework and message sidedness in persuasion literature. As such, it contributes to theoretical development in crisis communication and offers communication managers guidance on how to effectively address emotionally framed crises.
Green finance when stakeholders’ interests collide with each other: the case of Bangladesh
Authors: Agha Mahmoud , Hossain Md Mosharraf , Islam Md Shajul 
Published: March 2024

PurposeThis study examines the impact of chief executive officer (CEO) power, institutional investors and their interaction on green financing provided by Bangladeshi financial institutions and the moderating effect of government policy and CEO political connections on these relations.Design/methodology/approachWe employ ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions and interaction terms among variables of interest for the empirical analysis.FindingsGreen financing decreases with CEO power, implying that CEOs of this country’s financial institutions are averse to green loans, whereas institutional investors increase green financing extended by these institutions. The government policy, which includes financial incentives for complying financial institutions, strengthens institutional investors' positive impact on green financing, but it does not change CEOs' aversion to green loans. Institutional investors have a positive moderating effect on the relationship between green finance (GF) and CEO power, but this positive moderating effect is negated in banks where the government owns a stake, possibly because CEOs of state-owned financial institutions are politically connected, which reduces institutional investors’ influence over them.Originality/valueThis study is unique in that it is the first to examine how the interaction among different stakeholders affects green financing in a unique setting. As the literature is almost silent on this topic, the findings of this paper are expected to raise policymakers’ awareness of the obstacles that hamper the efforts of developing countries to go green.
Another look at the price clustering behavior: evidence from the Muscat stock exchange
Authors: Chebbi Tarek , Migdady Hazem , Hmedat Waleed , Shehadeh Maha 
Published: March 2024

PurposeThe price clustering behavior is becoming a core part of the market efficiency theory especially with the development of trading strategies and the occurrence of major and unprecedented shocks which have led to severe inquiry regarding asset price dynamics and their distribution. However, research on emerging stock market is scant. The study contributes to the literature on price clustering by investigating an active emerging stock market, the Muscat stock market one of the Arabian Gulf Markets.Design/methodology/approachThis research adopts the artificial intelligence technique and other statistical estimation procedure in understanding the price clustering patterns in Muscat stock market and their main determinants.FindingsThe findings reveal that stock prices are marked by clustering behavior as commonly highlighted in the previous studies. However, we found strong evidence of price preferences to cluster on numbers closer to zero than to one. We also show that the nature of firm’s activity matters for price clustering behavior. In addition, firms with traded bonds in Oman market experienced a substantial less stock price clustering than other firms. Clustered stock prices are more likely to have higher prices and higher volatility of price. Finally, clustering raised when the market became highly uncertain during the Covid-19 crisis especially for the financial firms.Originality/valueThis study provides novel results on price clustering literature especially for an active emerging market and during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis.
Plant geographic distribution influences chemical defences in native and introduced Plantago lanceolata populations
Authors: Medina‐van Berkum Pamela , Schmöckel Eric , Bischoff Armin , Carrasco‐Farias Natalia , Catford Jane A. , Feldmann Reinart , Groten Karin , Henry Hugh A. L. , Bucharova Anna , Hänniger Sabine , Luong Justin C. , Meis Julia , Oetama Vincensius S. P. , Pärtel Meelis , Power Sally A. , Villellas Jesus , Welk Erik , Wingler Astrid , Rothe Beate , Gershenzon Jonathan , Reichelt Michael , Roscher Christiane , Unsicker Sybille B. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Plants growing outside their native range may be confronted by new regimes of herbivory, but how this affects plant chemical defence profiles has rarely been studied.

Using Plantago lanceolata as a model species, we investigated whether introduced populations show significant differences from native populations in several growth and chemical defence traits. Plantago lanceolata (ribwort plantain) is an herbaceous plant species native to Europe and Western Asia that has been introduced to numerous countries worldwide.

We sampled seeds from nine native and 10 introduced populations that covered a broad geographic and environmental range and performed a greenhouse experiment, in which we infested half of the plants in each population with caterpillars of the generalist herbivore Spodoptera littoralis. We then measured size‐related and resource‐allocation traits as well as the levels of constitutive and induced chemical defence compounds in roots and shoots of P. lanceolata.

When we considered the environmental characteristics of the site of origin, our results revealed that populations from introduced ranges were characterized by an increase in chemical defence compounds without compromising plant biomass. The concentrations of iridoid glycosides and verbascoside, the major anti‐herbivore defence compounds of P. lanceolata, were higher in introduced populations than in native populations. In addition, introduced populations exhibited greater rates of herbivore‐induced volatile organic compound emission and diversity, and similar chemical diversity based on untargeted analyses of leaf methanol extracts.

In conclusion, the geographic origin of the populations had a significant influence on morphological and chemical plant traits, suggesting that P. lanceolata populations are not only adapted to different environments in their native range, but also in their introduced range.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Degrees of difference: Do college credentials earned behind bars improve labor market outcomes?
Authors: Ballou Abby 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIt is widely held that providing postsecondary education programs to incarcerated individuals will improve postrelease labor market outcomes. Little research evidence exists, however, to support this view. To test the effect of postsecondary carceral education credentials on employer perceptions of hireability, the current study uses a factorial design to survey a sample of employers nationwide (N = 2,538). Employers were presented with résumés of fictional applicants applying to a job as a customer service representative at a large call center. The résumés randomized education credentials earned while incarcerated. Results indicate that employers were significantly more willing to interview applicants with postsecondary education credentials relative to applicants with only a General Educational Development (GED) diploma. Although Black applicants who had earned a sub‐baccalaureate certificate saw improvements in hireability relative to GED holders, Black applicants who had earned a bachelor's degree did not. In contrast, White applicants benefited both from sub‐baccalaureate certificates and bachelor's degrees. Results from a mediation analysis suggest that these credentials signal important information to employers about applicant attributes and that improved perceptions of applicant ability and likelihood to reoffend drive the overall effect. Implications for future research and policy are explored.