scholarly journals Infection risk and extensive parental care govern the molecular evolution of Toll-like receptors in birds

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhechun Zhang ◽  
Dan Liang ◽  
Guoling Chen ◽  
Fasheng Zou ◽  
Fumin Lei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Parental Care ◽  
Positive Selection ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Infection Risk ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Immune Genes ◽  
Vital Functions

SummaryThe arms race between pathogens and the immune system of their hosts is a critical evolutionary force that affects the ecology and life history of organisms. An increased infection risk selects for adaptations in immune genes that encode receptors involved in pathogen recognition and the initiation of innate immune responses, including Toll-like receptor (TLR) genes. Although recent studies assessed the evolution of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, the ecological and evolutionary processes that drive the evolution of immune genes across major phylogenetic lineages remain unstudied. Moreover, trade-offs between immune responses and other energy-demanding vital functions may limit the resource allocation into costly immune functions, and therefore affect the evolution of immune genes. Here we assess the evolutionary patterns of six TLR genes across 121 bird species, covering 95% of extant orders that represent diverse ecologies and life histories. Selection analyses revealed that all six TLR genes show strong signs of purifying selection, while few sites underwent episodic positive selection. Comparative phylogenetic analyses showed that the intensity of positive selection of TLR genes is associated with long-distance migration, extensive parental care (i.e., altricality and prolonged parent-offspring association), and a large body size (a proxy of increased longevity). Together, these results suggest that the evolution of immune genes is characterized by episodic positive selection, and is shaped by an increased inflection risk and extensive parental care that buffers the costs of immune functions.

scholarly journals Integrated Framework of the Immune-Defense Transcriptional Signatures in the Arabidopsis Shoot Apical Meristem

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (16) ◽  
pp. 5745
Author(s):  
Muhammad Naseem ◽  
Özge Osmanoğlu ◽  
Martin Kaltdorf ◽  
Afnan Ali M. A. Alblooshi ◽  
Jibran Iqbal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Shoot Apical Meristem ◽  
Apical Meristem ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Gene Expression Omnibus ◽  
Immune Defense ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
Pathogen Infection ◽  
Immune Genes

The growing tips of plants grow sterile; therefore, disease-free plants can be generated from them. How plants safeguard growing apices from pathogen infection is still a mystery. The shoot apical meristem (SAM) is one of the three stem cells niches that give rise to the above ground plant organs. This is very well explored; however, how signaling networks orchestrate immune responses against pathogen infections in the SAM remains unclear. To reconstruct a transcriptional framework of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) pertaining to various SAM cellular populations, we acquired large-scale transcriptome datasets from the public repository Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). We identify here distinct sets of genes for various SAM cellular populations that are enriched in immune functions, such as immune defense, pathogen infection, biotic stress, and response to salicylic acid and jasmonic acid and their biosynthetic pathways in the SAM. We further linked those immune genes to their respective proteins and identify interactions among them by mapping a transcriptome-guided SAM-interactome. Furthermore, we compared stem-cells regulated transcriptome with innate immune responses in plants showing transcriptional separation among their DEGs in Arabidopsis. Besides unleashing a repertoire of immune-related genes in the SAM, our analysis provides a SAM-interactome that will help the community in designing functional experiments to study the specific defense dynamics of the SAM-cellular populations. Moreover, our study promotes the essence of large-scale omics data re-analysis, allowing a fresh look at the SAM-cellular transcriptome repurposing data-sets for new questions.

Experimentally increased costs of parental care are shunted to offspring in species with extended care

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gretchen F. Wagner ◽  
Emeline Mourocq ◽  
Michael Griesser
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Parental Care ◽  
Total Duration ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Life History Strategy ◽  
Experimental Treatment ◽  
Cost Of Care ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Trade Offs

Biparental care systems are a valuable model to examine conflict, cooperation, and coordination between unrelated individuals, as the product of the interactions between the parents influences the fitness of both individuals. A common experimental technique for testing coordinated responses to changes in the costs of parental care is to temporarily handicap one parent, inducing a higher cost of providing care. However, dissimilarity in experimental designs of these studies has hindered interspecific comparisons of the patterns of cost distribution between parents and offspring. Here we apply a comparative experimental approach by handicapping a parent at nests of five bird species using the same experimental treatment. In some species, a decrease in care by a handicapped parent was compensated by its partner, while in others the increased costs of care were shunted to the offspring. Parental responses to an increased cost of care primarily depended on the total duration of care that offspring require. However, life history pace (i.e., adult survival and fecundity) did not influence parental decisions when faced with a higher cost of caring. Our study highlights that a greater attention to intergenerational trade-offs is warranted, particularly in species with a large burden of parental care. Moreover, we demonstrate that parental care decisions may be weighed more against physiological workload constraints than against future prospects of reproduction, supporting evidence that avian species may devote comparable amounts of energy into survival, regardless of life history strategy.

scholarly journals The immune response of T cells and therapeutic targets related to regulating the levels of T helper cells after ischaemic stroke

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tian-Yu Lei ◽  
Ying-Ze Ye ◽  
Xi-Qun Zhu ◽  
Daniel Smerin ◽  
Li-Juan Gu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Ischaemic Stroke ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Tissue Injury ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Vital Functions ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

AbstractThrough considerable effort in research and clinical studies, the immune system has been identified as a participant in the onset and progression of brain injury after ischaemic stroke. Due to the involvement of all types of immune cells, the roles of the immune system in stroke pathology and associated effects are complicated. Past research concentrated on the functions of monocytes and neutrophils in the pathogenesis of ischaemic stroke and tried to demonstrate the mechanisms of tissue injury and protection involving these immune cells. Within the past several years, an increasing number of studies have elucidated the vital functions of T cells in the innate and adaptive immune responses in both the acute and chronic phases of ischaemic stroke. Recently, the phenotypes of T cells with proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory function have been demonstrated in detail. T cells with distinctive phenotypes can also influence cerebral inflammation through various pathways, such as regulating the immune response, interacting with brain-resident immune cells and modulating neurogenesis and angiogenesis during different phases following stroke. In view of the limited treatment options available following stroke other than tissue plasminogen activator therapy, understanding the function of immune responses, especially T cell responses, in the post-stroke recovery period can provide a new therapeutic direction. Here, we discuss the different functions and temporal evolution of T cells with different phenotypes during the acute and chronic phases of ischaemic stroke. We suggest that modulating the balance between the proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions of T cells with distinct phenotypes may become a potential therapeutic approach that reduces the mortality and improves the functional outcomes and prognosis of patients suffering from ischaemic stroke.

Operations of Rescue Helicopters and Ambulance Aircrafts at Aircraft and Airport Disasters

1985 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-124
Author(s):  
A.F. Köhler ◽  
P. Dürner
Keyword(s):  
Medical Department ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Rescue Service ◽  
Rescue Helicopter ◽  
Medical Centers ◽  
Vital Functions ◽  
Mobile Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Rapid Transport ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Basic Equipment

In aircraft and airport disasters help must reach the site of the accident in a very short time. In addition to the ground rescue service, rescue helicopters can also offer help. The rescue helicopter as a mobile intensive care unit contains a medical crew with a flying physician and a paramedic. The following are required basic equipment for rescue helicopters: resuscitation apparatus with and without oxygen; endotracheal intubation set; suction unit; apparatus for measuring blood pressure; infusion sets and solutions with intravenous cannulas; syringes and needles; bandages; special burn dressings; fixation and splinting material; vacuum mattress; surgical pocket kit; stomach tube; ECG monitor; defibrillator with pacemaker; drugs; and otoscope. This medical equipment has to be portable so that it can be used outside the rescue helicopter.The medical crew must be trained in emergency medical treatment and in aeromedical problems. Patients who are fit to fly can be transported by rescue helicopters after triage and support of their vital functions. This method is of most value if rapid transport to a distant specialized medical department, for example, to a burn or neurosurgery center, is required.The German Air Rescue operates seven rescue helicopters at five rescue helicopter centers for primary rescue with the helicopter types BO 105 CBS, BO 105, Bell 206 Long Ranger and 3et Ranger. Another important function of the service are long distance flights with patients to medical centers after aircraft and airport disasters. Specially equipped ambulance aircraft are used in these cases.

Effects of Herbal Medicinal Formulas on Suppressing Viral Replication and Modulating Immune Responses

2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (01) ◽  
pp. 173-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Fen Liao ◽  
Min-Chi Lu ◽  
Hon-Chou Chang ◽  
Cheng-Chung Wei ◽  
Chih-Hsiung Kao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Enterovirus 71 ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 ◽  
Human Neuroblastoma ◽  
Radix Isatidis ◽  
Herbal Medicinal ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Virus Suppression

The Chinese medicinal herbs Radix Isatidis and Viola yedoensis Makino have been suggested to possess antiviral activity. This study tests whether these and other Chinese and Western herbal medicinal formulas can modulate the immune functions involving virus-suppression in BALB/c mouse. We first confirmed the extract from Viola yedoensis Makino, but not from Radix Isatidis, the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula Chui-Uren-Chien (CUC), or a Western homeopathic medicinal drink Método Canova, could inhibit the replications of herpes simplex virus-1 and enterovirus 71 in the human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cell line. Subsequently, the same herbal extracts and drink underwent toxicity and immunomodulatory tests on mice of 5–7 weeks old. After 8 weeks of feeding different herbal medicinal formulas, no hepatic or renal toxicity was noted in any tested animal; whereas among the immune function evaluations, only the mice treated with CUC extract were found to be associated with significant increases (p < 0.05) in both the level of plasma IgG and the percentage of monocyte in blood mononuclear cells as well as the activation of macrophage Raw264.7 cells for nitric oxide production, suggesting its role in modulating the non-specific immune response. Analyses using protein arrays showed CUC was the most potent herbal medicinal formula eliciting fluctuations in plasma cytokine and chemokine concentrations. Taking all experimental data together, we conclude Chui-Uren-Chien possesses immunomodulatory capability in mouse, but none of the herbal medicinal formulas tested here are involved in strengthening antiviral immunity.

scholarly journals The tolerogenic interplay(s) among HLA-G, myeloid APCs, and regulatory cells

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (25) ◽  
pp. 6499-6505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgardo D. Carosella ◽  
Silvia Gregori ◽  
Joel LeMaoult
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Regulatory T Cells ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Recent Work ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Regulatory Cells ◽  
Individual Effects ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
Antigen Presenting

Abstract Myeloid antigen-presenting cells (APCs), regulatory cells, and the HLA-G molecule are involved in modulating immune responses and promoting tolerance. APCs are known to induce regulatory cells and to express HLA-G as well as 2 of its receptors; regulatory T cells can express and act through HLA-G; and HLA-G has been directly involved in the generation of regulatory cells. Thus, interplay(s) among HLA-G, APCs, and regulatory cells can be easily envisaged. However, despite a large body of evidence on the tolerogenic properties of HLA-G, APCs, and regulatory cells, little is known on how these tolerogenic players cooperate. In this review, we first focus on key aspects of the individual relationships between HLA-G, myeloid APCs, and regulatory cells. In its second part, we highlight recent work that gathers individual effects and demonstrates how intertwined the HLA-G/myeloid APCs/regulatory cell relationship is.

scholarly journals The neuropeptide receptor NMUR-1 regulates the specificity of C. elegans innate immunity against pathogen infection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip Wibisono ◽  
Shawndra Wibisono ◽  
Jan Watteyne ◽  
Chia-Hui Chen ◽  
Durai Sellegounder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Innate Immunity ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Adaptive Immune System ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Immune Genes ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Functional Assays

A key question in current immunology is how the innate immune system generates high levels of specificity. Like most invertebrates, Caenorhabditis elegans does not have an adaptive immune system and relies solely on innate immunity to defend itself against pathogen attacks, yet it can still differentiate different pathogens and launch distinct innate immune responses. Here, we have found that functional loss of NMUR-1, a neuronal GPCR homologous to mammalian receptors for the neuropeptide neuromedin U, has diverse effects on C. elegans survival against various bacterial pathogens. Transcriptomic analyses and functional assays revealed that NMUR-1 modulates C. elegans transcription activity by regulating the expression of transcription factors, which, in turn, controls the expression of distinct immune genes in response to different pathogens. Our study has uncovered a molecular basis for the specificity of C. elegans innate immunity that could provide mechanistic insights into understanding the specificity of vertebrate innate immunity.

scholarly journals Evolutionary analysis of vision genes identifies potential drivers of visual differences between giraffe and okapi

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edson Ishengoma ◽  
Morris Agaba ◽  
Douglas R. Cavener
Keyword(s):  
Positive Selection ◽  
Visual Signal ◽  
Evolutionary Analysis ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Phenotypic Differences ◽  
Multiple Strategies ◽  
Branch Site ◽  
Signature Of Selection ◽  
Evolutionary Success ◽  
Signatures Of Selection

BackgroundThe capacity of visually oriented species to perceive and respond to visual signal is integral to their evolutionary success. Giraffes are closely related to okapi, but the two species have broad range of phenotypic differences including their visual capacities. Vision studies rank giraffe’s visual acuity higher than all other artiodactyls despite sharing similar vision ecological determinants with many of them. The extent to which the giraffe’s unique visual capacity and its difference with okapi is reflected by changes in their vision genes is not understood.MethodsThe recent availability of giraffe and okapi genomes provided opportunity to identify giraffe and okapi vision genes. Multiple strategies were employed to identify thirty-six candidate mammalian vision genes in giraffe and okapi genomes. Quantification of selection pressure was performed by a combination of branch-site tests of positive selection and clade models of selection divergence through comparing giraffe and okapi vision genes and orthologous sequences from other mammals.ResultsSignatures of selection were identified in key genes that could potentially underlie giraffe and okapi visual adaptations. Importantly, some genes that contribute to optical transparency of the eye and those that are critical in light signaling pathway were found to show signatures of adaptive evolution or selection divergence. Comparison between giraffe and other ruminants identifies significant selection divergence inCRYAAandOPN1LW. Significant selection divergence was identified inSAGwhile positive selection was detected inLUMwhen okapi is compared with ruminants and other mammals. Sequence analysis ofOPN1LWshowed that at least one of the sites known to affect spectral sensitivity of the red pigment is uniquely divergent between giraffe and other ruminants.DiscussionBy taking a systemic approach to gene function in vision, the results provide the first molecular clues associated with giraffe and okapi vision adaptations. At least some of the genes that exhibit signature of selection may reflect adaptive response to differences in giraffe and okapi habitat. We hypothesize that requirement for long distance vision associated with predation and communication with conspecifics likely played an important role in the adaptive pressure on giraffe vision genes.

scholarly journals NF-κB Family of Transcription Factors: Central Regulators of Innate and Adaptive Immune Functions

2002 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 414-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Caamaño ◽  
Christopher A. Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Adaptive Immune Response ◽  
Regulatory Proteins ◽  
Regulatory Function ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
Critical Elements ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Host Pathogen Interaction ◽  
Resistance To Infection

SUMMARY Transcription factors of the Rel/NF-κB family are activated in response to signals that lead to cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis, and these proteins are critical elements involved in the regulation of immune responses. The conservation of this family of transcription factors in many phyla and their association with antimicrobial responses indicate their central role in the regulation of innate immunity. This is illustrated by the association of homologues of NF-κB, and their regulatory proteins, with resistance to infection in insects and plants (M. S. Dushay, B. Asling, and D. Hultmark, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:10343-10347, 1996; D. Hultmark, Trends Genet. 9:178-183, 1993; J. Ryals et al., Plant Cell 9:425-439, 1997). The aim of this review is to provide a background on the biology of NF-κB and to highlight areas of the innate and adaptive immune response in which these transcription factors have a key regulatory function and to review what is currently known about their roles in resistance to infection, the host-pathogen interaction, and development of human disease.

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