scholarly journals Not so sterile after all: The endomicrobiome of plerocercoids of the cestode parasiteSchistocephalus solidusand changes to the microbiome of its Threespine Stickleback host

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Hahn ◽  
Nolwenn Dheilly

AbstractDespite the growing recognition of the role of bacteria in animal biology, the microbiome of parasites remains largely unexplored. In particular, the presence of bacteria in tapeworms has never been investigated and parasites that exit the intestine would be considered sterile. We characterized for the first time the microbiome of a tapeworm.Schistocephalus solidusplerocercoids, collected from the body cavity of its stickleback host, were found to harbor a complex microbiome. The most abundant and the most prevalent bacteria wasPolynucleobacter sp.. In addition,S. solidusinfection was associated significant changes in the stickleback host gut microbiome with an increase in microbial load and changes in diversity and composition. Finally, the same bacteria were often found inS. solidusand the stomach and intestine of the corresponding hosts, a result that highlights the importance of characterizing the microbiome of host tissues and parasites from the same individuals to assess the potential for horizontal transmission of microbes. This study clearly emphasizes the need for further characterization of the microbiome of a broad range of parasites and for studies to determine the ecological, evolutionary and functional role that microbes play in host-parasite interactions.

Parasitology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-35
Author(s):  
ED Lombardini ◽  
B Malleret ◽  
A Rungojn ◽  
N Popruk ◽  
T Kaewamatawong ◽  
...  

Genes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mladen Vujošević ◽  
Marija Rajičić ◽  
Jelena Blagojević

The study of B chromosomes (Bs) started more than a century ago, while their presence in mammals dates since 1965. As the past two decades have seen huge progress in application of molecular techniques, we decided to throw a glance on new data on Bs in mammals and to review them. We listed 85 mammals with Bs that make 1.94% of karyotypically studied species. Contrary to general view, a typical B chromosome in mammals appears both as sub- or metacentric that is the same size as small chromosomes of standard complement. Both karyotypically stable and unstable species possess Bs. The presence of Bs in certain species influences the cell division, the degree of recombination, the development, a number of quantitative characteristics, the host-parasite interactions and their behaviour. There is at least some data on molecular structure of Bs recorded in nearly a quarter of species. Nevertheless, a more detailed molecular composition of Bs presently known for six mammalian species, confirms the presence of protein coding genes, and the transcriptional activity for some of them. Therefore, the idea that Bs are inert is outdated, but the role of Bs is yet to be determined. The maintenance of Bs is obviously not the same for all species, so the current models must be adapted while bearing in mind that Bs are not inactive as it was once thought.


2003 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 365-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.E. Hill ◽  
C.E. Davies ◽  
M.J. Wilson ◽  
P. Stephens ◽  
K.G. Harding ◽  
...  

There is growing evidence to suggest that the resident microflora of chronic venous leg ulcers impairs cellular wound-healing responses, thereby playing an important role in maintaining the non-healing phenotype of many of these wounds. The significance of individual species of bacteria will remain unclear until it is possible to characterize fully the microflora of such lesions. The limitations and biases of culture-based microbiology are being realized and the subsequent application of molecular methods is revealing greater diversity within mixed bacterial populations than that demonstrated by culture alone. To date, this approach has been limited to a small number of systems, including the oral microflora. Here, for the first time, the comprehensive characterization of the microflora present in the tissue of a chronic venous leg ulcer is described by the comparison of 16S rDNA sequences amplified directly from the wound tissue with sequences obtained from bacteria that were isolated by culture. The molecular approach demonstrated significantly greater bacterial diversity than that revealed by culture. Furthermore, sequences were retrieved that may possibly represent novel species of bacteria. It is only by the comprehensive analysis of the wound microflora by both molecular and cultural methods that it will be possible to further our understanding of the role of bacteria in this important condition.


2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1879) ◽  
pp. 20180285 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Côte ◽  
A. Boniface ◽  
S. Blanchet ◽  
A. P. Hendry ◽  
J. Gasparini ◽  
...  

The role of parasites in shaping melanin-based colour polymorphism, and the consequences of colour polymorphism for disease resistance, remain debated. Here we review recent evidence of the links between melanin-based coloration and the behavioural and immunological defences of vertebrates against their parasites. First we propose that (1) differences between colour morphs can result in variable exposure to parasites, either directly (certain colours might be more or less attractive to parasites) or indirectly (variations in behaviour and encounter probability). Once infected, we propose that (2) immune variation between differently coloured individuals might result in different abilities to cope with parasite infection. We then discuss (3) how these different abilities could translate into variable sexual and natural selection in environments varying in parasite pressure. Finally, we address (4) the potential role of parasites in the maintenance of melanin-based colour polymorphism, especially in the context of global change and multiple stressors in human-altered environments. Because global change will probably affect both coloration and the spread of parasitic diseases in the decades to come, future studies should take into account melanin-based coloration to better predict the evolutionary responses of animals to changing disease risk in human-altered environments.


2019 ◽  
Vol 234 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 513-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogdan Kuchta ◽  
Filip Formalik ◽  
Justyna Rogacka ◽  
Alexander V. Neimark ◽  
Lucyna Firlej

Abstract Phonons are quantum elastic excitations of crystalline solids. Classically, they correspond to the collective vibrations of atoms in ordered periodic structures. They determine the thermodynamic properties of solids and their stability in the case of structural transformations. Here we review for the first time the existing examples of the phonon analysis of adsorption-induced transformations occurring in microporous crystalline materials. We discuss the role of phonons in determining the mechanism of the deformations. We point out that phonon-based methodology may be used as a predictive tool in characterization of flexible microporous structures; therefore, relevant numerical tools must be developed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1920) ◽  
pp. 20192386
Author(s):  
Frida Ben-Ami ◽  
Christian Orlic ◽  
Roland R. Regoes

Exposure to a pathogen primes many organisms to respond faster or more efficiently to subsequent exposures. Such priming can be non-specific or specific, and has been found to extend across generations. Disentangling and quantifying specific and non-specific effects is essential for understanding the genetic epidemiology of a system. By combining a large infection experiment and mathematical modelling, we disentangle different transgenerational effects in the crustacean model Daphnia magna exposed to different strains of the bacterial parasite Pasteuria ramosa . In the experiment, we exposed hosts to a high dose of one of three parasite strains, and subsequently challenged their offspring with multiple doses of the same (homologous) or a different (heterologous) strain. We find that exposure of Daphnia to Pasteuria decreases the susceptibility of their offspring by approximately 50%. This transgenerational protection is not larger for homologous than for heterologous parasite challenges. Methodologically, our work represents an important contribution not only to the analysis of immune priming in ecological systems but also to the experimental assessment of vaccines. We present, for the first time, an inference framework to investigate specific and non-specific effects of immune priming on the susceptibility distribution of hosts—effects that are central to understanding immunity and the effect of vaccines.


1973 ◽  
Vol 117 (5) ◽  
pp. 671-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.A. Jacobs ◽  
R.J. Selvaraj ◽  
R.R. Strauss ◽  
B.B. Paul ◽  
G.W. Mitchell ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-96
Author(s):  
Atanu Bhattacharyya ◽  
Shashidhar Viraktamath ◽  
Fani Hatjina ◽  
Santanu Bhattacharyya ◽  
Bhaktibhavana Rajankar ◽  
...  

Abstract The presence of nanoparticles on the body of the honeybee Apis dorsata Fabricius, was investigated for the first time to better understand the bee’s behaviour. These have been observed by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and confirmed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Our study clearly denotes that the Indian rock honey bee Apis dorsata possess calcium silicate and calcium phosphate nanoparticles on its body surface of 5-50 nm in diameter. In particular, the nanoparticles on the abdomen and thorax of A. dorsata have an average diameter of about 10 nanometers and they are smaller than those found on wings of the same bees which are about 20 nanometers. The nanoparticles found are different of the ones previously observed on honey bees or other insects. The origin and role of these natural nanoparticles on the body of the Indian rock bee need to be to be further investigated; more research in the subject might raise important aspects in relation to the conservation of these unique pollinators.


1999 ◽  
Vol 163 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Chyb ◽  
T Mikolajczyk ◽  
B Breton

In order to determine the factors of ovarian origin which can modulate the postovulatory secretion of the FSH-like gonadotropin (GtH I) and the LH-like gonadotropin (GtH II), freshly ovulated female rainbow trout were divided into two groups. In the first group the fish were stripped in order to eliminate the eggs and ovarian fluid from the body cavity, while in the second group the eggs were kept in the body cavity. Subsequently, fish from both groups were implanted with testosterone (10 mg/kg), 17beta-estradiol (10 mg/kg) or 17,20beta-ddihydroxy-4-regnen-3-one (17,20betaP) (1 mg/kg) or injected every 2 days with desteroidized ovarian fluid (1.5 ml/kg). The secretion of GtH I dramatically increased in stripped fish, reaching its maximum levels 2 weeks after ovulation. The preservation of eggs in the body cavity led to the suppression of this increase. The profiles of GtH II secretion were opposite to those encountered for GtH I because the increase of GtH II was observed only in unstripped fish. The administration of steroids showed that testosterone is able to inhibit GtH I release and stimulate that of GtH II in stripped fish, having no effect on the release of these gonadotropins in non-stripped animals. 17beta-Estradiol failed to modify GtH I secretion, however it decreased the release of GtH II in fish containing retained eggs in the body cavity. 17,20betaP had a delayed stimulating influence on GtH I release in unstripped fish. Finally, multiple injections of desteroidized ovarian fluid into stripped fish led to a significant decrease of GtH I release and to an increase of GtH II secretion. This study demonstrates that factors, which are present in ovarian fluid, modulate the post-ovulatory secretion of both gonadotropins--their net action is negative on GtH I and positive on GtH II. Among the steroids, testosterone is of major importance, being able to inhibit GtH I release and to stimulate that of GtH II. We also show that non-steroidal factors present in the ovarian fluid can influence the release of both gonadotropins, which indirectly supports the previous findings about the existence of inhibin/activin-like factors in fish.


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