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the spectral transmission of ocular media suggests ultraviolet sensitivity is widespread among mammals.although ultraviolet (uv) sensitivity is widespread among animals it is considered rare in mammals, being restricted to the few species that have a visual pigment maximally sensitive (λmax) below 400 nm. however, even animals without such a pigment will be uv-sensitive if they have ocular media that transmit these wavelengths, as all visual pigments absorb significant amounts of uv if the energy level is sufficient. although it is known that lenses of diurnal sciurid rodents, tree shrews and pri ...201424552839
the effects of prenatal stocking densities on the fear responses and sociality of goat (capra hircus) kids.prenatal stress (stress experienced by a pregnant mother) and its effects on offspring have been comprehensively studied but relatively little research has been done on how prenatal social stress affects farm animals such as goats. here, we use the operational description of 'stress' as "physical or perceived threats to homeostasis." the aim of this study was to investigate the prenatal effects of different herd densities on the fear responses and sociality of goat kids. pregnant norwegian dairy ...201424710177
identification and characterization of alternative splicing in parasitic nematode transcriptomes.alternative splicing (as) of mrna is a vital mechanism for enhancing genomic complexity in eukaryotes. spliced isoforms of the same gene can have diverse molecular and biological functions and are often differentially expressed across various tissues, times, and conditions. thus, as has important implications in the study of parasitic nematodes with complex life cycles. transcriptomic datasets are available from many species, but data must be revisited with splice-aware assembly protocols to fac ...201424690220
growth of the eye lens: ii. allometric studies.the purpose of this study was to examine the ontogeny and phylogeny of lens growth in a variety of species using allometry.201424715759
goats excel at learning and remembering a highly novel cognitive task.the computational demands of sociality (maintaining group cohesion, reducing conflict) and ecological problems (extractive foraging, memorizing resource locations) are the main drivers proposed to explain the evolution cognition. different predictions follow, about whether animals would preferentially learn new tasks socially or not, but the prevalent view today is that intelligent species should excel at social learning. however, the predictions were originally used to explain primate cognition ...201424666734
reliable discrimination of 10 ungulate species using high resolution melting analysis of faecal dna.identifying species occupying an area is essential for many ecological and conservation studies. faecal dna is a potentially powerful method for identifying cryptic mammalian species. in new zealand, 10 species of ungulate (order: artiodactyla) have established wild populations and are managed as pests because of their impacts on native ecosystems. however, identifying the ungulate species present within a management area based on pellet morphology is unreliable. we present a method that enables ...201424637802
angiotensin ii-induced cardiovascular load regulates cardiac remodeling and related gene expression in late-gestation fetal sheep.angiotensin ii (ang ii) stimulates fetal heart growth, although little is known regarding changes in cardiomyocyte endowment or the molecular pathways mediating the response. we measured cardiomyocyte proliferation and morphology in ang ii-treated fetal sheep and assessed transcriptional pathway responses in ang ii and losartan (an ang ii type 1 receptor antagonist) treated fetuses.201424614802
the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 1 (nod1) polymorphism s7n does not affect receptor function.activation and signal transduction in the nucleotide binding, leucine-rich repeat containing receptor (nlr) family needs to be tightly regulated in order to control the inflammatory response to exogenous and endogenous danger signals. phosphorylation is a common cellular mechanism of regulation that has recently been shown to be important in signalling in another family of cytoplasmic pattern recognition receptors, the rig-i like receptors. in addition, single nucleotide polymorphisms can alter ...201424598002
primate phylogenetic relationships and divergence dates inferred from complete mitochondrial genomes.the origins and the divergence times of the most basal lineages within primates have been difficult to resolve mainly due to the incomplete sampling of early fossil taxa. the main source of contention is related to the discordance between molecular and fossil estimates: while there are no crown primate fossils older than 56ma, most molecule-based estimates extend the origins of crown primates into the cretaceous. here we present a comprehensive mitogenomic study of primates. we assembled 87 mamm ...201424583291
deer antler extract improves fatigue effect through altering the expression of genes related to muscle strength in skeletal muscle of mice.deer antler is a well-known traditional chinese medicine used in asian countries for the tonic and the improvement of aging symptoms. the present study was designed to investigate the antifatigue effect and mechanism of formosan sambar deer tip antler extract (fsdtae). the swimming times to exhaustion of mice administered fsdtae (8.2 mg/day) for 28 days were apparently longer than those of the vehicle-treated mice in forced swim test. however, the indicators of fatigue, such as the reduction in ...201424701242
prey preferences of the snow leopard (panthera uncia): regional diet specificity holds global significance for conservation.the endangered snow leopard is a large felid that is distributed over 1.83 million km(2) globally. throughout its range it relies on a limited number of prey species in some of the most inhospitable landscapes on the planet where high rates of human persecution exist for both predator and prey. we reviewed 14 published and 11 unpublished studies pertaining to snow leopard diet throughout its range. we calculated prey consumption in terms of frequency of occurrence and biomass consumed based on 1 ...201424533080
signatures of selection in sheep bred for resistance or susceptibility to gastrointestinal nematodes.gastrointestinal nematodes are one of the most serious causes of disease in domestic ruminants worldwide. there is considerable variation in resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes within and between sheep breeds, which appears to be due to underlying genetic diversity. through selection of resistant animals, rapid genetic progress has been demonstrated in both research and commercial flocks. recent advances in genome sequencing and genomic technologies provide new opportunities to understand t ...201425074012
using participatory risk mapping (prm) to identify and understand people's perceptions of crop loss to animals in uganda.considering how people perceive risks to their livelihoods from local wildlife is central to (i) understanding the impact of crop damage by animals on local people and (ii) recognising how this influences their interactions with, and attitudes towards, wildlife. participatory risk mapping (prm) is a simple, analytical tool that can be used to identify and classify risk within communities. here we use it to explore local people's perceptions of crop damage by wildlife and the animal species invol ...201425076415
expression analysis of heat shock protein genes during aeromonas hydrophila infection in rohu, labeo rohita, with special reference to molecular characterization of grp78.heat shock protein (hsp) genes are stress-related genes that activate the host immune system during infection. hsp genes expression in fish, studied during bacterial infections, is mostly confined to hsp70 and hsp90. the present study is an expression analysis of seven hsp genes: apg2, hsp90, hsp70, glucose-regulated protein 78 (grp78), heat shock cognate 70 (hsc70), grp75, and hsp30 during aeromonas hydrophila infection in rohu, labeo rohita. forty-eight rohu juveniles were challenged with 3 ×  ...201425037476
the "bear" essentials: actualistic research on ursus arctos arctos in the spanish pyrenees and its implications for paleontology and archaeology.neotaphonomic studies of large carnivores are used to create models in order to explain the formation of terrestrial vertebrate fossil faunas. the research reported here adds to the growing body of knowledge on the taphonomic consequences of large carnivore behavior in temperate habitats and has important implications for paleontology and archaeology. using photo- and videotrap data, we were able to describe the consumption of 17 ungulate carcasses by wild brown bears (ursus arctos arctos) rangi ...201425029167
molecular evolution of the tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase allows prediction and validation of missense mutations responsible for hypophosphatasia.alpl encodes the tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (tnsalp), which removes phosphate groups from various substrates. its function is essential for bone and tooth mineralization. in humans, alpl mutations lead to hypophosphatasia, a genetic disorder characterized by defective bone and/or tooth mineralization. to date, 275 alpl mutations have been reported to cause hypophosphatasia, of which 204 were simple missense mutations. molecular evolutionary analysis has proved to be an efficient met ...201425023282
impact of nox5 polymorphisms on basal and stimulus-dependent ros generation.nox5 is an ef-hand containing, calcium-dependent isoform of the nadph oxidase family of reactive oxygen species (ros) generating enzymes. altered expression and activity of nox5 has been reported in cardiovascular diseases and cancers but the absence of nox5 in rodents has precluded a greater understanding of its physiological and pathophysiological roles. multiple polymorphisms have been identified within the coding sequence of human nox5, but whether this translates into altered enzyme functio ...201424992705
development of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (lamp) assay for rapid and sensitive identification of ostrich meat.animal species identification is one of the primary duties of official food control. since ostrich meat is difficult to be differentiated macroscopically from beef, therefore new analytical methods are needed. to enforce labeling regulations for the authentication of ostrich meat, it might be of importance to develop and evaluate a rapid and reliable assay. in the present study, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (lamp) assay based on the cytochrome b gene of the mitochondrial dna of the s ...201424963709
data sharing reveals complexity in the westward spread of domestic animals across neolithic turkey.this study presents the results of a major data integration project bringing together primary archaeozoological data for over 200,000 faunal specimens excavated from seventeen sites in turkey spanning the epipaleolithic through chalcolithic periods, c. 18,000-4,000 cal bc, in order to document the initial westward spread of domestic livestock across neolithic central and western turkey. from these shared datasets we demonstrate that the westward expansion of neolithic subsistence technologies co ...201424927173
investigating hsp gene expression in liver of channa striatus under heat stress for understanding the upper thermal acclimation.changes in hsp gene expression profiles in murrel channa striatus experimentally exposed to temperature stress (36°c) for 4, 15, and 30 days were investigated; fish collected from aquaculture ponds and maintained in laboratory at the pond temperature (25 ± 1°c) served as control. channa collected from a hot spring runoff (36°c) was included in the study to examine the hsp profiles beyond 30 days of exposure. gene expression analyses of a battery of hsps in liver tissues were carried out by quant ...201425003111
functional analysis of normalized difference vegetation index curves reveals overwinter mule deer survival is driven by both spring and autumn phenology.large herbivore populations respond strongly to remotely sensed measures of primary productivity. whereas most studies in seasonal environments have focused on the effects of spring plant phenology on juvenile survival, recent studies demonstrated that autumn nutrition also plays a crucial role. we tested for both direct and indirect (through body mass) effects of spring and autumn phenology on winter survival of 2315 mule deer fawns across a wide range of environmental conditions in idaho, usa. ...201424733951
origin of serpin-mediated regulation of coagulation and blood pressure.vertebrates evolved an endothelium-lined hemostatic system and a pump-driven pressurized circulation with a finely-balanced coagulation cascade and elaborate blood pressure control over the past 500 million years. genome analyses have identified principal components of the ancestral coagulation system, however, how this complex trait was originally regulated is largely unknown. likewise, little is known about the roots of blood pressure control in vertebrates. here we studied three members of th ...201424840053
first report of a thioredoxin homologue in jellyfish: molecular cloning, expression and antioxidant activity of cctrx1 from cyanea capillata.thioredoxins (trx proteins) are a family of small, highly-conserved and ubiquitous proteins that play significant roles in the resistance of oxidative damage. in this study, a homologue of trx was identified from the cdna library of tentacle of the jellyfish cyanea capillata and named cctrx1. the full-length cdna of cctrx1 was 479 bp with a 312 bp open reading frame encoding 104 amino acids. bioinformatics analysis revealed that the putative cctrx1 protein harbored the evolutionarily-conserved t ...201424824597
evolutionary changes in vertebrate genome signatures with special focus on coelacanth.with a remarkable increase in genomic sequence data of a wide range of species, novel tools are needed for comprehensive analyses of the big sequence data. self-organizing map (som) is a powerful tool for clustering high-dimensional data on one plane. for oligonucleotide compositions handled as high-dimensional data, we have previously modified the conventional som for genome informatics: blsom. in the present study, we constructed blsoms for oligonucleotide compositions in fragment sequences (e ...201424800745
evolutionary conservation in genes underlying human psychiatric disorders.many psychiatric diseases observed in humans have tenuous or absent analogs in other species. most notable among these are schizophrenia and autism. one hypothesis has posited that these diseases have arisen as a consequence of human brain evolution, for example, that the same processes that led to advances in cognition, language, and executive function also resulted in novel diseases in humans when dysfunctional. here, the molecular evolution of the protein-coding regions of genes associated wi ...201424834046
non-human lnc-dc orthologs encode wdnm1-like protein.in a recent publication in science, wang et al. found a long noncoding rna (lncrna) expressed in human dendritic cells (dc), which they designated lnc-dc. based on lentivirus-mediated rna interference (rnai) experiments in human and murine systems, they concluded that lnc-dc is important in differentiation of monocytes into dc. however, wang et al. did not mention that their so-called "mouse lnc-dc ortholog" gene was already designated " wdnm1-like" and is known to encode a small secreted protei ...201425309733
adaptive evolution of the stra6 genes in mammalian.stimulated by retinoic acid 6 (stra6) is the receptor for retinol binding protein and is relevant for the transport of retinol to specific sites such as the eye. the adaptive evolution mechanism that vertebrates have occupied nearly every habitat available on earth and adopted various lifestyles associated with different light conditions and visual challenges, as well as their role in development and adaptation is thus far unknown. in this work, we have investigated different aspects of vertebra ...201425251323
the (non)effects of lethal population control on the diet of australian dingoes.top-predators contribute to ecosystem resilience, yet individuals or populations are often subject to lethal control to protect livestock, managed game or humans from predation. such management actions sometimes attract concern that lethal control might affect top-predator function in ways ultimately detrimental to biodiversity conservation. the primary function of a predator is predation, which is often investigated by assessing their diet. we therefore use data on prey remains found in 4,298 a ...201425243466
gps based daily activity patterns in european red deer and north american elk (cervus elaphus): indication for a weak circadian clock in ungulates.long-term tracking using global positioning systems (gps) is widely used to study vertebrate movement ecology, including fine-scale habitat selection as well as large-scale migrations. these data have the potential to provide much more information about the behavior and ecology of wild vertebrates: here we explore the potential of using gps datasets to assess timing of activity in a chronobiological context. we compared two different populations of deer (cervus elaphus), one in the netherlands ( ...201425208246
a novel p20r mutation in the alpha-b crystallin gene causes autosomal dominant congenital posterior polar cataracts in a chinese family.to identify the genetic defects and investigate the possible mechanism of cataract genesis in a five-generation family with autosomal dominant congenital posterior polar cataracts.201425195561
comparative analysis of evolutionarily conserved motifs of epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (her2) predicts novel potential therapeutic epitopes.overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (her2) is associated with tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis in breast cancer. with the availability of therapeutic antibodies against her2, great strides have been made in the clinical management of her2 overexpressing breast cancer. however, de novo and acquired resistance to these antibodies presents a serious limitation to successful her2 targeting treatment. the identification of novel epitopes of her2 that can be used for func ...201425192037
quantitative analysis of pork and chicken products by droplet digital pcr.in this project, a highly precise quantitative method based on the digital polymerase chain reaction (dpcr) technique was developed to determine the weight of pork and chicken in meat products. real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qpcr) is currently used for quantitative molecular analysis of the presence of species-specific dnas in meat products. however, it is limited in amplification efficiency and relies on standard curves based ct values, detecting and quantifying low copy numb ...201425243184
crossover of the hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal/interrenal, -thyroid, and -gonadal axes in testicular development.besides the well-known function of thyroid hormones (ths) for regulating metabolism, it has recently been discovered that ths are also involved in testicular development in mammalian and non-mammalian species. ths, in combination with follicle stimulating hormone, lead to androgen synthesis in danio rerio, which results in the onset of spermatogenesis in the testis, potentially relating the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (hpt) gland to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (hpg) axes. furthermore, ...201425221542
xenografting of testicular tissue pieces: 12 years of an in vivo spermatogenesis system.spermatogenesis is a dynamic and complex process that involves endocrine and testicular factors. during xenotransplantation of testicular tissue fragments into immunodecifient mice, a functional communication between host brain and donor testis is established. this interaction allows for the progression of spermatogenesis and recovery of fertilisation-competent spermatozoa from a broad range of mammalian species. in the last few years, significant progress has been achieved in testis tissue xeno ...201425150043
neosomes of tungid fleas on wild and domestic animals.tunga is the most specialized genus among the siphonaptera because adult females penetrate into the skin of their hosts and, after mating and fertilization, undergo hypertrophy, forming an enlarged structure known as the neosome. in humans and other warm-blooded animals, neosomes cause tungiasis, which arises due to the action of opportunistic agents. although its effects on humans and domestic animals are well described in the literature, little is known about the impact of tungiasis on wild an ...201425141814
mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis isolates induce in vitro granuloma formation and show successful survival phenotype, common anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic responses within ovine macrophages regardless of genotype or host of origin.the analysis of the early macrophage responses, including bacterial growth within macrophages, represents a powerful tool to characterize the virulence of clinical isolates of mycobcaterium avium susbp. paratuberculosis (map). the present study represents the first assessment of the intracellular behaviour in ovine monocyte-derived macrophages (mdms) of map isolates representing distinct genotypes (c, s and b), and isolated from cattle, sheep, goat, fallow deer, deer, and wild boar. intracellula ...201425111300
frequent loss and alteration of the moxd2 gene in catarrhines and whales: a possible connection with the evolution of olfaction.the moxd2 gene encodes a membrane-bound monooxygenase similar to dopamine-β-hydroxylase, and has been proposed to be associated with olfaction. in this study, we analyzed moxd2 genes from 64 mammalian species, and identified loss-of-function mutations in apes (humans, sumatran and bornean orangutans, and five gibbon species from the four major gibbon genera), toothed whales (killer whales, bottlenose dolphins, finless porpoises, baijis, and sperm whales), and baleen whales (minke whales and fin ...201425102179
eco-epidemiology of chagas disease in an endemic area of colombia: risk factor estimation, trypanosoma cruzi characterization and identification of blood-meal sources in bugs.the sierra nevada de santa marta (snsm) is a mountainous area in colombia that is highly endemic to chagas disease. we explored some eco-epidemiological attributes involved in the chagas disease transmission scenario in three indigenous communities. an epidemiological survey was done, where parasite infection in reservoirs and insects, trypanosoma cruzi genotyping, identification of blood-meal sources in intradomiciliary insects using the high-resolution melting technique, and some risk factors ...201425331808
proteomic analysis of the extraembryonic tissues from cloned porcine fetus at day 35 of pregnancy.somatic cell cloning by nuclear transfer (scnt) in pig is clearly of great benefit for basic research and biomedical applications. even though cloned offspring have been successfully produced in pig, scnt is struggling with the low efficiency.201425433481
interpreting sperm dna damage in a diverse range of mammalian sperm by means of the two-tailed comet assay.key conceptsthe two-dimensional two-tailed comet assay (tt-comet) protocol is a valuable technique to differentiate between single-stranded (ssbs) and double-stranded dna breaks (dsbs) on the same sperm cell.protein lysis inherent with the tt-comet protocol accounts for differences in sperm protamine composition at a species-specific level to produce reliable visualization of sperm dna damage.alkaline treatment may break the sugar-phosphate backbone in abasic sites or at sites with deoxyribose d ...201425505901
identification of transglutaminase reactive residues in human osteopontin and their role in polymerization.osteopontin (opn) is a highly posttranslationally modified protein present in several tissues where it is implicated in numerous physiological processes. opn primarily exerts its functions through interaction with integrins via the arg-gly-asp and ser-val-val-tyr-gly-leu-arg sequences located in the n-terminal part of the protein. opn can be polymerized by the cross-linking enzyme transglutaminase 2 (tg2), and polymerization has been shown to enhance the biological activity of opn. however, litt ...201425419572
unusual ratio between free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine in a long-lived mole-rat species with bimodal ageing.ansell's mole-rats (fukomys anselli) are subterranean, long-lived rodents, which live in eusocial families, where the maximum lifespan of breeders is twice as long as that of non-breeders. their metabolic rate is significantly lower than expected based on allometry, and their retinae show a high density of s-cone opsins. both features may indicate naturally low thyroid hormone levels. in the present study, we sequenced several major components of the thyroid hormone pathways and analyzed free an ...201425409169
interferons and their receptors in birds: a comparison of gene structure, phylogenetic analysis, and cross modulation.interferon may be thought of as a key, with the interferon receptor as the signal lock: crosstalk between them maintains their balance during viral infection. in this review, the protein structure of avian interferon and the interferon receptor are discussed, indicating remarkable similarity between different species. however, the structures of the interferon receptors are more sophisticated than those of the interferons, suggesting that the interferon receptor is a more complicated signal lock ...201425405736
lysine 63-linked tank-binding kinase 1 ubiquitination by mindbomb e3 ubiquitin protein ligase 2 is mediated by the mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein.beta interferon (ifn-β) is involved in a wide range of cellular functions, and its secretion must be tightly controlled to inhibit viral spreading while minimizing cellular damage. intracellular viral replication triggers cellular signaling cascades leading to the activation of the transcription factors nf-κb and interferon regulatory factor 3 (irf3) and irf7 (irf3/7), which synergistically bind to the ifn-β gene promoter to induce its expression. the mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (m ...201425142606
cellular requirements for bovine immunodeficiency virus vif-mediated inactivation of bovine apobec3 proteins.human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (hiv-1) and simian immunodeficiency virus (siv) viral infectivity factor (vif) form a crl5 e3 ubiquitin ligase complex to suppress virus restriction by host apobec3 (a3) proteins. the primate lentiviral vif complex is composed of the unique cofactor core binding factor β (cbf-β) and canonical ligase components cullin 5 (cul5), elongin b/c (elob/c), and rbx2. however, the mechanism by which the vif protein of the related lentivirus bovine immunodeficiency virus ...201425142583
ovine β-lactoglobulin at atomic resolution.the crystal structure of the triclinic form of the milk protein β-lactoglobulin from sheep (ovis aries) at 1.1 å resolution is described together with a comparison of the triclinic structures of the low-ph bovine and high-ph ovine proteins. all three structures are remarkably similar, despite the well known ph-dependent conformational transition described for the bovine and porcine proteins that occurs in solution. the high resolution of the present structure determination has allowed a more acc ...201425372816
analysis of genetic variations across regulatory and coding regions of kappa-casein gene of indian native cattle (bos indicus) and buffalo (bubalus bubalis).the promoter region of kappa-casein (κ-cn) gene in indian native cattle and buffalo breeds was sequenced and analyzed for nucleotide variations. sequence comparison across breeds of indian cattle revealed a total of 7 variations in the promoter region, of which - 515 g/t, - 427 c/t, - 385 c/t, - 283 a/g and - 251 c/t were located within consensus binding sites for octamer-binding protein (oct1)/pregnancy specific mammary nuclear factor (pmf), activator protein-2 (ap2), hepatocyte nuclear factor ...201425606460
structural and functional divergence of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone from jawless fish to mammals.gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (gnih) was discovered as a novel hypothalamic peptide that inhibits gonadotropin release in the quail. the presence of gnih-homologous peptides and its receptors (gnihrs) have been demonstrated in various vertebrate species including teleosts, suggesting that the gnih-gnihr family is evolutionarily conserved. in avian and mammalian brain, gnih neurons are localized in the hypothalamic nuclei and their neural projections are widely distributed. gnih acts on the pit ...201425386165
evolution of c, d and s-type cystatins in mammals: an extensive gene duplication in primates.cystatins are a family of inhibitors of cysteine peptidases that comprises the salivary cystatins (d and s-type cystatins) and cystatin c. these cystatins are encoded by a multigene family (cst3, cst5, cst4, cst1 and cst2) organized in tandem in the human genome. their presence and functional importance in human saliva has been reported, however the distribution of these proteins in other mammals is still unclear. here, we performed a proteomic analysis of the saliva of several mammals and studi ...201425329717
multiple alternative splicing and differential expression pattern of the glycogen synthase kinase-3β (gsk3β) gene in goat (capra hircus).glycogen synthase kinase-3β (gsk3β) has been identified as a key protein kinase involved in several signaling pathways, such as wnt, igf-ι and hedgehog. however, knowledge regarding gsk3β in the goat is limited. in this study, we cloned and characterized the goat gsk3β gene. six novel gsk3β transcripts were identified in different tissues and designated as gsk3β1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. rt-pcr was used to further determine whether the six gsk3β transcripts existed in different goat tissues. bioinform ...201425334049
insights into potential pathogenesis mechanisms associated with campylobacter jejuni-induced abortion in ewes.campylobacter jejuni is commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract of many food-animals including sheep without causing visible clinical symptoms of disease. however, c. jejuni has been implicated in ovine abortion cases worldwide. specifically, in the usa, the c. jejuni sheep abortion (sa) clone has been increasingly associated with sheep abortion. in vivo studies in sheep (the natural host) are needed to better characterize the virulence potential and pathogenesis of this clone.201425420712
all-food-seq (afs): a quantifiable screen for species in biological samples by deep dna sequencing.dna-based methods like pcr efficiently identify and quantify the taxon composition of complex biological materials, but are limited to detecting species targeted by the choice of the primer assay. we show here how untargeted deep sequencing of foodstuff total genomic dna, followed by bioinformatic analysis of sequence reads, facilitates highly accurate identification of species from all kingdoms of life, at the same time enabling quantitative measurement of the main ingredients and detection of ...201425081296
molecular characterization of a novel n-acetyltransferase from chryseobacterium sp.n-acetyltransferase from chryseobacterium sp. strain 5-3b is an acetyl coenzyme a (acetyl-coa)-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the enantioselective transfer of an acetyl group from acetyl-coa to the amino group of l-2-phenylglycine to produce (2s)-2-acetylamino-2-phenylacetic acid. we purified the enzyme from strain 5-3b and deduced the n-terminal amino acid sequence. the gene, designated nata, was cloned with two other hypothetical protein genes; the three genes probably form a 2.5-kb operon. t ...201424375143
unexpected cross-species contamination in genome sequencing projects.the raw data from a genome sequencing project sometimes contains dna from contaminating organisms, which may be introduced during sample collection or sequence preparation. in some instances, these contaminants remain in the sequence even after assembly and deposition of the genome into public databases. as a result, searches of these databases may yield erroneous and confusing results. we used efficient microbiome analysis software to scan the draft assembly of domestic cow, bos taurus, and ide ...201425426337
an enu-induced splicing mutation reveals a role for unc93b1 in early immune cell activation following influenza a h1n1 infection.genetic and immunological analysis of host-pathogen interactions can reveal fundamental mechanisms of susceptibility and resistance to infection. modeling human infectious diseases among inbred mouse strains is a proven approach but is limited by naturally occurring genetic diversity. using n-ethyl-n-nitrosourea mutagenesis, we created a recessive loss-of-function point mutation in unc93b1 (unc-93 homolog b1 (c. elegans)), a chaperone for endosomal toll-like receptors (tlr)3, tlr7 and tlr9, whic ...201424848930
predicting the mosquito species and vertebrate species involved in the theoretical transmission of rift valley fever virus in the united states.rift valley fever virus (rvfv) is a mosquito-borne virus in the family bunyaviridiae that has spread throughout continental africa to madagascar and the arabian peninsula. the establishment of rvfv in north america would have serious consequences for human and animal health in addition to a significant economic impact on the livestock industry. published and unpublished data on rvfv vector competence, vertebrate host competence, and mosquito feeding patterns from the united states were combined ...201425211133
louping ill virus: an endemic tick-borne disease of great britain.in europe and asia, ixodid ticks transmit tick-borne encephalitis virus (tbev), a flavivirus that causes severe encephalitis in humans but appears to show no virulence for livestock and wildlife. in the british isles, where tbev is absent, a closely related tick-borne flavivirus, named louping ill virus (liv), is present. however, unlike tbev, liv causes a febrile illness in sheep, cattle, grouse and some other species, that can progress to fatal encephalitis. the disease is detected predominant ...201424552787
anti-lyssaviral activity of interferons κ and ω from the serotine bat, eptesicus serotinus.interferons (ifns) are cytokines produced by host cells in response to the infection with pathogens. by binding to the corresponding receptors, ifns trigger different pathways to block intracellular replication and growth of pathogens and to impede the infection of surrounding cells. due to their key role in host defense against viral infections, as well as for clinical therapies, the ifn responses and regulation mechanisms are well studied. however, studies of type i ifns have mainly focused on ...201424574413
climate change, adaptation, and phenotypic plasticity: the problem and the evidence.many studies have recorded phenotypic changes in natural populations and attributed them to climate change. however, controversy and uncertainty has arisen around three levels of inference in such studies. first, it has proven difficult to conclusively distinguish whether phenotypic changes are genetically based or the result of phenotypic plasticity. second, whether or not the change is adaptive is usually assumed rather than tested. third, inferences that climate change is the specific causal ...201424454544
a new multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis reveals different clusters for anaplasma phagocytophilum circulating in domestic and wild ruminants.anaplasma phagocytophilum is a tick-borne intragranulocytic alpha-proteobacterium. it is the causative agent of tick-borne fever in ruminants, and of human granulocytic anaplasmosis in humans, two diseases which are becoming increasingly recognized in europe and the usa. however, while several molecular typing tools have been developed over the last years, few of them are appropriate for in-depth exploration of the epidemiological cycle of this bacterium. therefore we have developed a multiple-l ...201425228371
prevalence and diversity among anaplasma phagocytophilum strains originating from ixodes ricinus ticks from northwest norway.the tick-borne pathogen anaplasma phagocytophilum causes great concern for livestock farmers. tick-borne fever is a widespread disease in norway, and antibodies have been produced amongst sheep, roe deer, red deer, and moose. the main vector ixodes ricinus is found along the norwegian coastline as far north as the arctic circle. a total number of 1804 i. ricinus ticks were collected and the prevalence of the pathogen was determined by species-specific qpcr. the overall infection rate varied from ...201425215241
first report of anaplasma phagocytophilum and babesia microti in rodents in finland.tick-borne diseases pose an increasingly important public health problem in europe. rodents are the reservoir host for many tick-transmitted pathogens, including anaplasma phagocytophilum and babesia microti, which can cause human granulocytic anaplasmosis and babesiosis, respectively. to estimate the presence of these pathogens in rodents in finland, we examined blood samples from 151 bank voles (myodes glareolus) and demonstrate, for the first time, that a. phagocytophilum and b. microti commo ...201424848684
soluble proteins of chemical communication: an overview across arthropods.detection of chemical signals both in insects and in vertebrates is mediated by soluble proteins, highly concentrated in olfactory organs, which bind semiochemicals and activate, with still largely unknown mechanisms, specific chemoreceptors. the same proteins are often found in structures where pheromones are synthesized and released, where they likely perform a second role in solubilizing and delivering chemical messengers in the environment. a single class of soluble polypeptides, called odor ...201425221516
fundamental issues related to the origin of melatonin and melatonin isomers during evolution: relation to their biological functions.melatonin and melatonin isomers exist and/or coexist in living organisms including yeasts, bacteria and plants. the levels of melatonin isomers are significantly higher than that of melatonin in some plants and in several fermented products such as in wine and bread. currently, there are no reports documenting the presence of melatonin isomers in vertebrates. from an evolutionary point of view, it is unlikely that melatonin isomers do not exist in vertebrates. on the other hand, large quantities ...201425207599
comparative genomics of first available bovine anaplasma phagocytophilum genome obtained with targeted sequence capture.anaplasma phagocytophilum is a zoonotic and obligate intracellular bacterium transmitted by ticks. in domestic ruminants, it is the causative agent of tick-borne fever, which causes significant economic losses in europe. as a. phagocytophilum is difficult to isolate and cultivate, only nine genome sequences have been published to date, none of which originate from a bovine strain.our goals were to; 1/ develop a sequencing methodology which efficiently circumvents the difficulties associated with ...201425400116
genetic analysis of loop sequences in the let-7 gene family reveal a relationship between loop evolution and multiple isomirs.while mature mirnas have been widely studied, the terminal loop sequences are rarely examined despite regulating both primary and mature mirna functions. herein, we attempted to understand the evolutionary pattern of loop sequences by analyzing loops in the let-7 gene family. compared to the stable mirna length distributions seen in most metazoans, higher metazoan species exhibit a longer length distribution. examination of these loop sequence length distributions, in addition to phylogenetic tr ...201425397967
cloning, expression and functional analysis of the duck toll-like receptor 5 (tlr5) gene.toll-like receptor 5 (tlr5) is responsible for the recognition of bacterial flagellin in vertebrates. in the present study, the first tlr5 gene in duck was cloned. the open reading frame (orf) of duck tlr5 (dtlr5) cdna is 2580 bp and encodes a polypeptide of 859 amino acids. we also cloned partial sequences of myeloid differentiation factor 88, 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (oas), and myxovirus resistance (mx) genes from duck. dtlr5 mrna was highly expressed in the bursa of fabricius, spleen, ...201425269719
effects of maternal dexamethasone treatment early in pregnancy on glucocorticoid receptors in the ovine placenta.the effects of endogenous cortisol on binucleate cells (bncs), which promote fetal growth, may be mediated by glucocorticoid receptors (grs), and exposure to dexamethasone (dex) in early pregnancy stages of placental development might modify this response. in this article, we have investigated the expression of gr as a determinant of these responses. pregnant ewes carrying singleton fetuses (n = 119) were randomized to control (2 ml saline/ewe) or dex-treated groups (intramuscular injections of ...201425332218
influence of saline on temperature profile of laser lithotripsy activation.we established an ex vivo model to evaluate the temperature profile of the ureter during laser lithotripsy, the influence of irrigation on temperature, and thermal spread during lithotripsy with the holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (ho:yag) laser.201425154455
early dexamethasone treatment induces placental apoptosis in sheep.glucocorticoid treatment given in late pregnancy in sheep resulted in altered placental development and function. an imbalance of placental survival and apoptotic factors resulting in an increased rate of apoptosis may be involved. we have now investigated the effects of dexamethasone (dex) in early pregnancy on binucleate cells (bncs), placental apoptosis, and fetal sex as a determinant of these responses. pregnant ewes carrying singleton fetuses (n = 105) were randomized to control (n = 56, 2 ...201425063551
cross-sectional study of schmallenberg virus seroprevalence in wild ruminants in poland at the end of the vector season of 2013.in view of recurrent schmallenberg virus (sbv) infections all over europe between 2011 and 2013, a lively scientific debate over the importance of the sylvatic transmission cycle of the virus has emerged. the study presents results of serosurvey which included wild ruminants representing species of red deer (cervus elaphus), roe deer (capreolus capreolus), european bison (bison bonasus), fallow deer (dama dama), mouflon (ovis orientalis musimon) hunted or immobilized at 34 different locations of ...201425528665
resurrection and redescription of varestrongylus alces (nematoda: protostrongylidae), a lungworm of the eurasian moose (alces alces), with report on associated pathology.varestrongylus alces, a lungworm in eurasian moose from europe has been considered a junior synonym of varestrongylus capreoli, in european roe deer, due to a poorly detailed morphological description and the absence of a type-series.201425518921
aucpr: an auc-based approach using penalized regression for disease prediction with high-dimensional omics data.it is common to get an optimal combination of markers for disease classification and prediction when multiple markers are available. many approaches based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (auc) have been proposed. existing works based on auc in a high-dimensional context depend mainly on a non-parametric, smooth approximation of auc, with no work using a parametric auc-based approach, for high-dimensional data.201425559769
"ménage à trois": the evolutionary interplay between jsrv, enjsrvs and domestic sheep.sheep betaretroviruses represent a fascinating model to study the complex evolutionary interplay between host and pathogen in natural settings. in infected sheep, the exogenous and pathogenic jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (jsrv) coexists with a variety of highly related endogenous jsrvs, referred to as enjsrvs. during evolution, some of them were co-opted by the host as they fulfilled important biological functions, including placental development and protection against related exogenous retroviru ...201425502326
effects of wolf mortality on livestock depredations.predator control and sport hunting are often used to reduce predator populations and livestock depredations, but the efficacy of lethal control has rarely been tested. we assessed the effects of wolf mortality on reducing livestock depredations in idaho, montana and wyoming from 1987-2012 using a 25 year time series. the number of livestock depredated, livestock populations, wolf population estimates, number of breeding pairs, and wolves killed were calculated for the wolf-occupied area of each ...201425470821
can sexual selection theory inform genetic management of captive populations? a review.captive breeding for conservation purposes presents a serious practical challenge because several conflicting genetic processes (i.e., inbreeding depression, random genetic drift and genetic adaptation to captivity) need to be managed in concert to maximize captive population persistence and reintroduction success probability. because current genetic management is often only partly successful in achieving these goals, it has been suggested that management insights may be found in sexual selectio ...201425553072
where do livestock guardian dogs go? movement patterns of free-ranging maremma sheepdogs.in many parts of the world, livestock guardian dogs (lgds) are a relatively new and increasingly popular method for controlling the impact of wild predators on livestock. on large grazing properties in australia, lgds are often allowed to range freely over large areas, with minimal supervision by their owners. how they behave in this situation is mostly unknown. we fitted free-ranging maremma sheepdogs with gps tracking collars on three properties in victoria, australia; on two properties, four ...201425353319
ensembl 2015.ensembl (http://www.ensembl.org) is a genomic interpretation system providing the most up-to-date annotations, querying tools and access methods for chordates and key model organisms. this year we released updated annotation (gene models, comparative genomics, regulatory regions and variation) on the new human assembly, grch38, although we continue to support researchers using the grch37.p13 assembly through a dedicated site (http://grch37.ensembl.org). our regulatory build has been revamped to ...201425352552
molecular characterization of gastrothylax crumenifer (platyhelminthes: gastrothylacidae) from goats in the western part of india by lsu of nuclear ribosomal dna.the rumen parasite, gastrothylax crumenifer (platyhelminthes: gastrothylacidae), is a highly pathogenic trematode parasite of goat (capra hircus). it sucks blood that causes acute disease like anemia, and severe economic losses occur due to morbidity and mortality of the ruminant infected by these worms. the study of these rumen paramphistomes, their infection, and public health importance remains unclear in india especially in the western part of state uttar pradesh (u.p.), meerut, india, where ...201425548426
transcriptome analysis of cns immediately before and after the detection of prp(sc) in ssbp/1 sheep scrapie.sheep scrapie is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (tse), progressive and fatal neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system (cns) linked to the accumulation of misfolded prion protein, prp(sc). new zealand cheviot sheep, homozygous for the vrq genotype of the prnp gene are most susceptible with an incubation period of 193 days with ssbp/1 scrapie. however, the earliest time point that prp(sc) can be detected in the cns is 125 days (d125). the aim of this study was to quantif ...201425183238
fundamental population-productivity relationships can be modified through density-dependent feedbacks of life-history evolution.the evolution of life histories over contemporary time scales will almost certainly affect population demography. one important pathway for such eco-evolutionary interactions is the density-dependent regulation of population dynamics. here, we investigate how fisheries-induced evolution (fie) might alter density-dependent population-productivity relationships. to this end, we simulate the eco-evolutionary dynamics of an atlantic cod (gadus morhua) population under fishing, followed by a period o ...201425558282
in vivo interactions between cobalt or ferric compounds and the pools of sulphide in the blood during and after h2s poisoning.hydrogen sulphide (h2s), a chemical hazard in oil and gas production, has recently become a dreadful method of suicide, posing specific risks and challenges for the first responders. currently, there is no proven effective treatment against h2s poisoning and its severe neurological, respiratory or cardiac after-effects. we have recently described that h2s is present in various compartments, or pools, in the body during sulphide exposure, which have different levels of toxicity. the general goals ...201425015662
genome-wide association study for wool production traits in a chinese merino sheep population.genome-wide association studies (gwas) provide a powerful approach for identifying quantitative trait loci without prior knowledge of location or function. to identify loci associated with wool production traits, we performed a genome-wide association study on a total of 765 chinese merino sheep (junken type) genotyped with 50 k single nucleotide polymorphisms (snps). in the present study, five wool production traits were examined: fiber diameter, fiber diameter coefficient of variation, finenes ...201425268383
immune profile predicts survival and reflects senescence in a small, long-lived mammal, the greater sac-winged bat (saccopteryx bilineata).the immune system imposes costs that may have to be traded against investment of resources in other costly life-history traits. yet, it is unknown if a trade-off between immunity and longevity occurs in free-ranging mammals. here, we tested if age and survival, two aspects associated with longevity, are linked to immune parameters in an 8 g bat species. using a combination of cross-sectional and longitudinal data, we assessed whether total white blood cell (wbc) counts, bacterial killing ability ...201425254988
interacting effects of age, density, and weather on survival and current reproduction for a large mammal.individual-based study of natural populations allows for accurate and precise estimation of fitness components and the extent to which they might vary with ecological conditions. by tracking the fates of all 701 horses known to have lived on sable island, canada, from 2009 to 2013 (where there is no predation, human interference, or interspecific competition for food), we present a detailed analysis of structured population dynamics with focus on interacting effects of intraspecific competition ...201425614799
prenatal influence of an androgen agonist and antagonist on the differentiation of the ovine sexually dimorphic nucleus in male and female lamb fetuses.the ovine sexually dimorphic nucleus (osdn) is 2 times larger in rams than in ewes. sexual differentiation of the osdn is produced by testosterone exposure during the critical period occurring between gestational day (gd)60 and gd90 (term, 147 d). we tested the hypothesis that testosterone acts through the androgen receptor to control development of the male-typical osdn. in experiment 1, pregnant ewes received injections of vehicle, androgen receptor antagonist flutamide, or nonaromatizable and ...201425216387
identification of qtls for behavioral reactivity to social separation and humans in sheep using the ovinesnp50 beadchip.current trends in sheep farming practices rely on animals with a greater level of behavioral autonomy than before, a phenotype that actively contributes to the sustainability of animal production. social reactivity and reactivity to humans are relevant behavioral traits in sheep, known for their strong gregariousness and weak tolerance to handling, which have previously been reported with moderate to high heritabilities. to identify loci underlying such behaviors, we performed a genome study in ...201425204347
mycoplasma ovipneumoniae--a primary cause of severe pneumonia epizootics in the norwegian muskox (ovibos moschatus) population.the norwegian muskox (ovibos moschatus) population lives on the high mountain plateau of dovre and originates from animals introduced from greenland. in the late summers of 2006 and 2012, severe outbreaks of pneumonia with mortality rates of 25-30% occurred. during the 2012 epidemic high quality samples from culled sick animals were obtained for microbiological and pathological examinations. high throughput sequencing (pyrosequencing) of pneumonic lung tissue revealed high concentrations of myco ...201425198695
cloning and tissue distribution of novel splice variants of the ovine ghrelin gene.the ghrelin axis is involved in the regulation of metabolism, energy balance, and the immune, cardiovascular and reproductive systems. the manipulation of this axis has potential for improving economically valuable traits in production animals, and polymorphisms in the ghrelin (ghrl) and ghrelin receptor (ghsr) genes have been associated with growth and carcass traits. here we investigate the structure and expression of the ghrelin gene (ghrl) in sheep, ovis aries.201425350131
fluke abundance versus host age for an invasive trematode (dicrocoelium dendriticum) of sympatric elk and beef cattle in southeastern alberta, canada.epidemiological parameters such as transmission rate, rate of parasite-induced host mortality, and rate of development of host defenses can be assessed indirectly by characterizing the manner in which parasite burdens change with host age. for parasites that are host generalists, estimates of these important parameters may be host-species dependent. in a cross-sectional study, we determined age-abundance profiles of infection in samples of sympatric free-ranging elk and domestic cattle infected ...201425426422
evolutionary origin and diversification of epidermal barrier proteins in amniotes.the evolution of amniotes has involved major molecular innovations in the epidermis. in particular, distinct structural proteins that undergo covalent cross-linking during cornification of keratinocytes facilitate the formation of mechanically resilient superficial cell layers and help to limit water loss to the environment. special modes of cornification generate amniote-specific skin appendages such as claws, feathers, and hair. in mammals, many protein substrates of cornification are encoded ...201425169930
behavioral responses of wolves to roads: scale-dependent ambivalence.throughout their recent recovery in several industrialized countries, large carnivores have had to cope with a changed landscape dominated by human infrastructure. population growth depends on the ability of individuals to adapt to these changes by making use of new habitat features and at the same time to avoid increased risks of mortality associated with human infrastructure. we analyzed the summer movements of 19 gps-collared resident wolves (canis lupus l.) from 14 territories in scandinavia ...201425419085
unexpected maturation of pi3k and mapk-erk signaling in fetal ovine cardiomyocytes.in the first two-thirds of gestation, ovine fetal cardiomyocytes undergo mitosis to increase cardiac mass and accommodate fetal growth. thereafter, some myocytes continue to proliferate while others mature and terminally differentiate into binucleated cells. at term (145 days gestational age; dga) about 60% of cardiomyocytes become binucleated and exit the cell cycle under hormonal control. rising thyroid hormone (t3) levels near term (135 dga) inhibit proliferation and stimulate maturation. how ...201425128174
an integrative omics strategy to assess the germ cell secretome and to decipher sertoli-germ cell crosstalk in the mammalian testis.mammalian spermatogenesis, which takes place in complex testicular structures called seminiferous tubules, is a highly specialized process controlled by the integration of juxtacrine, paracrine and endocrine information. within the seminiferous tubules, the germ cells and sertoli cells are surrounded by testicular fluid (tf), which probably contains most of the secreted proteins involved in crosstalk between these cells. it has already been established that germ cells can modulate somatic sertol ...201425111155
natural selection on individual variation in tolerance of gastrointestinal nematode infection.hosts may mitigate the impact of parasites by two broad strategies: resistance, which limits parasite burden, and tolerance, which limits the fitness or health cost of increasing parasite burden. the degree and causes of variation in both resistance and tolerance are expected to influence host-parasite evolutionary and epidemiological dynamics and inform disease management, yet very little empirical work has addressed tolerance in wild vertebrates. here, we applied random regression models to lo ...201425072883
airborne biogenic particles in the snow of the cities of the russian far east as potential allergic compounds.this paper presents an analysis of airborne biogenic particles (1 mkm-1 mm) found in the snow in several cities of the russian far east during 2010-2013. the most common was vegetational terraneous detritus (fragments of tree and grass leaves) followed by animal hair, small insects and their fragments, microorganisms of aeroplankton, and equivocal biological garbage. specific components were found in samples from locations close to bodies of water such as fragments of algae and mollusc shells an ...201425140327
mineralocorticoid effects in the late gestation ovine fetal lung.this study was designed to determine the effects of corticosteroids at mr in the late-gestation fetal lung. since both the mineralocorticoid receptor (mr) and the glucocorticoid receptor (gr) are expressed at relatively high levels in the fetal lung, endogenous corticosteroids may act at mr as well as gr in the preterm fetal lung. the gr agonist, betamethasone, the mr agonist, aldosterone, or both were infused intravenously for 48 h in ovine fetuses of approximately 130 days gestation. effects o ...201425347852
fit-for-purpose curated database application in mass spectrometry-based targeted protein identification and validation.mass spectrometry (ms) is a very sensitive and specific method for protein identification, biomarker discovery, and biomarker validation. protein identification is commonly carried out by comparing ms data with public databases. however, with the development of high throughput and accurate genomic sequencing technology, public databases are being overwhelmed with new entries from different species every day. the application of these databases can also be problematic due to factors such as size, ...201425011440
host and viral determinants of mx2 antiretroviral activity.myxovirus resistance 2 (mx2/mxb) has recently been uncovered as an effector of the anti-hiv-1 activity of type i interferons (ifns) that inhibits hiv-1 at an early stage postinfection, after reverse transcription but prior to proviral integration into host dna. the mechanistic details of mx2 antiviral activity are not yet understood, but a few substitutions in the hiv-1 capsid have been shown to confer resistance to mx2. through a combination of in vitro evolution and unbiased mutagenesis, we fu ...201424760893
phenology and cover of plant growth forms predict herbivore habitat selection in a high latitude ecosystem.the spatial and temporal distribution of forage quality is among the most central factors affecting herbivore habitat selection. yet, for high latitude areas, forage quantity has been found to be more important than quality. studies on large ungulate foraging patterns are faced with methodological challenges in both assessing animal movements at the scale of forage distribution, and in assessing forage quality with relevant metrics. here we use first-passage time analyses to assess how reindeer ...201424972188
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