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effects of strain and species on the septo-temporal distribution of adult neurogenesis in rodents.the functional septo-temporal (dorso-ventral) differentiation of the hippocampus is accompanied by gradients of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (ahn) in laboratory rodents. an extensive septal ahn in laboratory mice suggests an emphasis on a relation of ahn to tasks that also depend on the septal hippocampus. domestication experiments indicate that ahn dynamics along the longitudinal axis are subject to selective pressure, questioning if the septal emphasis of ahn in laboratory mice is a rule app ...201729311796
segregation and fertility in mus musculus domesticus (wild mice) heterozygous for the rb(4.12) translocation.analysis of the progeny of wild mice heterozygous for the rb(4.12) shows that fertility and segregation are normal. this study, and others with similar results, suggests that our view of the chromosomal evolution of the house mouse should be revised.199229231205
synaptic configuration of quadrivalents and their association with the xy bivalent in spermatocytes of robertsonian heterozygotes of mus domesticus.the nuclear architecture of meiotic prophase spermatocytes is based on higher-order patterns of spatial associations among chromosomal domains and consequently is prone to modification by chromosomal rearrangements. we have shown that nuclear architecture is modified in spermatocytes of robertsonian (rb) homozygotes of mus domesticus. in this study we analyse the synaptic configuration of the quadrivalents formed in the meiotic prophase of spermatocytes of mice double heterozygotes for the depen ...201729169375
ecological and sanitary impacts of bacterial communities associated to biological invasions in african commensal rodent communities.changes in host-parasite ecological interactions during biological invasion events may affect both the outcome of invasions and the dynamics of exotic and/or endemic infections. we tested these hypotheses, by investigating ongoing house mouse (mus musculus domesticus) and black rat (rattus rattus) invasions in senegal (west africa). we used a 16s gene rrna amplicon sequencing approach to study potentially zoonotic bacterial communities in invasive and native rodents sampled along two well-define ...201729101373
comparative postnatal histomorphogenesis of the mandible in wild and laboratory mice.the coordinated activity of bone cells (i.e., osteoblasts and osteoclasts) during ontogeny underlies observed changes in bone growth rates (recorded in bone histology and bone microstructure) and bone remodeling patterns explaining the ontogenetic variation in bone size and shape. histological cross-sections of the mandible in the c57bl/6j inbred mouse strain were recently examined in order to analyze the bone microstructure, as well as the directions and rates of bone growth according to the pa ...201828935565
serological survey of zoonotic viruses in invasive and native commensal rodents in senegal, west africa.increasing studies on rodent-borne diseases still highlight the major role of rodents as reservoirs of numerous zoonoses of which the frequency is likely to increase worldwide as a result of accelerated anthropogenic changes, including biological invasions. such a situation makes pathogen detection in rodent populations important, especially in the context of developing countries characterized by high infectious disease burden. here, we used indirect fluorescent antibody tests to describe the ci ...201728873024
no speed dating please! patterns of social preference in male and female house mice.in many animal species, interactions between individuals of different sex often occur in the context of courtship and mating. during these interactions, a specific mating partner can be chosen. by discriminating potential mates according to specific characteristics, individuals can increase their evolutionary fitness in terms of reproduction and offspring survival. in this study, we monitored the partner preference behaviour of female and male wild house mice (mus musculus domesticus) from popul ...201728747988
bartonella in rodents and ectoparasites in the canary islands, spain: new insights into host-vector-pathogen relationships.bartonella genus is comprised of several species of zoonotic relevance and rodents are reservoirs for some of these bartonella species. as there were no data about the range of bartonella species circulating among rodents in the canary islands, our main aim was to overcome this lack of knowledge by targeting both the citrate synthase (glta) and the rna polymerase beta subunit (rpob) genes. a total of 181 small mammals and 154 ectoparasites were obtained in three of the canary islands, namely ten ...201728660292
no evidence for punishment in communally nursing female house mice (mus musculus domesticus).punishment is claimed as an important mechanism to stabilise costly cooperation in humans, but its importance in social animals has been questioned recently due to both conceptual considerations and a lack of empirical evidence (only few published studies). we empirically tested whether there is evidence for punishment in communally nursing house mice (mus musculus domesticus, direct descendants of "wild" animals). communally breeding females pool their litters and raise all offspring together, ...201728640850
do changes in gene expression contribute to sexual isolation and reinforcement in the house mouse?expression divergence, rather than sequence divergence, has been shown to be important in speciation, particularly in the early stages of divergence of traits involved in reproductive isolation. in the two european subspecies of house mice, mus musculus musculus and mus musculus domesticus, earlier studies have demonstrated olfactory-based assortative mate preference in populations close to their hybrid zone. it has been suggested that this behaviour evolved following the recent secondary contac ...201728626946
genetics of genome-wide recombination rate evolution in mice from an isolated island.recombination rate is a heritable quantitative trait that evolves despite the fundamentally conserved role that recombination plays in meiosis. differences in recombination rate can alter the landscape of the genome and the genetic diversity of populations. yet our understanding of the genetic basis of recombination rate evolution in nature remains limited. we used wild house mice (mus musculus domesticus) from gough island (gi), which diverged recently from their mainland counterparts, to chara ...201728576862
analysis of copy number variation in the abp gene regions of two house mouse subspecies suggests divergence during the gene family expansions.the androgen-binding protein ( abp ) gene region of the mouse genome contains 64 genes, some encoding pheromones that influence assortative mating between mice from different subspecies. using cnvnator and quantitative pcr, we explored copy number variation in this gene family in natural populations of mus musculus domesticus ( mmd ) and mus musculus musculus ( mmm ), two subspecies of house mice that form a narrow hybrid zone in central europe. we found that copy number variation in the center ...201728575204
centromeric incompatibilities in the hybrid zone between house mouse subspecies from denmark: evidence from patterns of nor activity.the introgression pattern of centromeric nucleolar organizer regions (nors) was studied in house mice from the hybrid zone between mus musculus musculus and mus musculus domesticus in denmark. in this region, the two subspecies are chromosomally differentiated: m. m domesticus carries three pairs of robertsonian (rb) fusion chromosomes (2n = 34), while m. m. musculus exhibits the ancestral karyotype of 2n = 40 acrocentric chromosomes. a previous chromosomal analysis showed that the rb clines wer ...199828568333
quantitative genetics of sprint running speed and swimming endurance in laboratory house mice (mus domesticus).we tested the hypothesis that locomotor speed and endurance show a negative genetic correlation using a genetically variable laboratory strain of house mice (hsd:icr: mus domesticus). a negative genetic correlation would qualify as an evolutionary "constraint," because both aspects of locomotor performance are generally expected to be under positive directional selection in wild populations. we also tested whether speed or endurance showed any genetic correlation with body mass. for all traits, ...199628565702
developmental stability, fitness, and trait size in laboratory hybrids between european subspecies of the house mouse.the effects of hybridization on developmental stability and size of tooth characters were investigated in intersubspecific crosses between random-bred wild strains of the house mouse (mus musculus domesticus and m. m. musculus). fluctuating asymmetry (fa) and trait size were compared within and between parental, f1 , backcross, and f2 hybrid groups. the relationship between fa and reproductive fitness within the f1 hybrids was also studied. the results indicated that both fa and character size l ...199728565477
low frequency of t haplotypes in natural populations of house mice (mus musculus domesticus).t haplotypes are a naturally occurring, autosomal, meiotic-drive system found on chromosome 17 of the house mouse. they show non-mendelian transmission from heterozygous +/t males, such that 90% or more of the male's offspring inherit the t-bearing chromosome. although they are expected to become rapidly fixed, surveys of natural populations typically report low overall frequencies of only ~15-25% +/t heterozygotes. generally, such studies of t haplotypes in wild populations have sampled only sm ...199828565222
salivary androgen-binding protein (abp) mediates sexual isolation in mus musculus.we wanted to determine whether the microevolution of the mouse salivary androgen-binding protein (abp) alpha subunit gene (abpa) could mediate sexual selection and thereby have a potential role in maintaining gene pool integrity where radiating mouse subspecies make secondary contact. this hypothesis is based upon previous work in this laboratory, which has shown that each subspecies apparently has its own allele and that these alleles have a 25-fold excess of nonsynonymous/synonymous base subst ...199728565121
extreme karyotypic variation in a mus musculus domesticus hybrid zone: the tobacco mouse story revisited.the robertsonian fusion is a common chromosomal mutation among mammal species and is especially prevalent in the west european house mouse, mus musculus domesticus. more than 40 races of the house mouse exist in europe, including the famous "tobacco mouse" (poschiavo race) of val poschiavo, switzerland. documented here is the discovery of an extreme case of karyotypic variation in the neighboring upper valtellina, italy. in a 20-km stretch of the valley, 32 karyotypes were observed, including fi ...199328564891
postnatal mandible growth in wild and laboratory mice: differences revealed from bone remodeling patterns and geometric morphometrics.comparative information on the variation in the temporospatial patterning of mandible growth in wild and laboratory mice during early postnatal ontogeny is scarce but important to understand variation among wild rodent populations. here, we compare mandible growth between two ontogenetic series from the second to the eighth week of postnatal life, corresponding to two different groups of mice reared under the same conditions: the classical inbred strain c57bl/6j, and mus musculus domesticus. we ...201728503758
nuclear architecture of mouse spermatocytes: chromosome topology, heterochromatin, and nucleolus.the nuclear organization of spermatocytes in meiotic prophase i is primarily determined by the synaptic organization of the bivalents that are bound by their telomeres to the nuclear envelope and described as arc-shaped trajectories through the 3d nuclear space. however, over this basic meiotic organization, a spermatocyte nuclear architecture arises that is based on higher-ordered patterns of spatial associations among chromosomal domains from different bivalents that are conditioned by the ind ...201728494440
chromosome 1 sequence analysis of c57bl/6j-chr1km mouse strain.the chinese kunming (km) mouse is a widely used outbred mouse stock in china. however, its genetic structure remains unclear. in this study, we sequenced the genome of the c57bl/6j-chr1km (b6-chr1km) strain, the chromosome 1 (chr 1) of which was derived from one km mouse. with 36.6× average coverage of the entire genome, 0.48 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (snps) and 96,679 indels were detected on chr 1 through comparison with reference strain c57bl/6j. moreover, 46,590 of them were cla ...201728487860
the comparative immunology of wild and laboratory mice, mus musculus domesticus.the laboratory mouse is the workhorse of immunology, used as a model of mammalian immune function, but how well immune responses of laboratory mice reflect those of free-living animals is unknown. here we comprehensively characterize serological, cellular and functional immune parameters of wild mice and compare them with laboratory mice, finding that wild mouse cellular immune systems are, comparatively, in a highly activated (primed) state. associations between immune parameters and infection ...201728466840
adaptative evolution of the vkorc1 gene in mus musculus domesticus is influenced by the selective pressure of anticoagulant rodenticides.anticoagulant rodenticides are commonly used to control rodent pests worldwide. they specifically inhibit the vitamin k epoxide reductase (vkorc1), which is an enzyme encoded by the vkorc1 gene, involved in the recycling of vitamin k. therefore, they prevent blood clotting. numerous mutations of vkorc1 gene were reported in rodents, and some are involved in the resistant to rodenticides phenotype. two hundred and sixty-six mice tails were received from 65 different locations in france. coding se ...201728428867
genetic structure and invasion history of the house mouse (mus musculus domesticus) in senegal, west africa: a legacy of colonial and contemporary times.knowledge of the genetic make-up and demographic history of invasive populations is critical to understand invasion mechanisms. commensal rodents are ideal models to study whether complex invasion histories are typical of introductions involving human activities. the house mouse mus musculus domesticus is a major invasive synanthropic rodent originating from south-west asia. it has been largely studied in europe and on several remote islands, but the genetic structure and invasion history of thi ...201728353686
molecular heterogeneity in major urinary proteins of mus musculus subspecies: potential candidates involved in speciation.when hybridisation carries a cost, natural selection is predicted to favour evolution of traits that allow assortative mating (reinforcement). incipient speciation between the two european house mouse subspecies, mus musculus domesticus and m.m.musculus, sharing a hybrid zone, provides an opportunity to understand evolution of assortative mating at a molecular level. mouse urine odours allow subspecific mate discrimination, with assortative preferences evident in the hybrid zone but not in allop ...201728337988
water flux and energy use in wild house mice (mus domesticus) and the impact of seasonal aridity on breeding and population levels.water turnover rate (wtr), urine concentration and field metabolic rate (fmr) were examined in house mice, mus domesticus, permanently inhabiting roadside verge areas and seasonally invading crops in semi-arid wheatlands in south australia. fmr was approximately proportional to body mass0.5 and mean values varied from 4.8 ml co2 g-1h-1 (2.9 kj g-1d-1) in autumn and winter, to 7.0 ml co2 g-1h-1 (4.2 kj g-1d-1) in maturing crops during spring. wtr was independent of body mass, indicating that larg ...199128312623
meiotic consequences of genetic divergence across the murine pseudoautosomal region.the production of haploid gametes during meiosis is dependent on the homology-driven processes of pairing, synapsis, and recombination. on the mammalian heterogametic sex chromosomes, these key meiotic activities are confined to the pseudoautosomal region (par), a short region of near-perfect sequence homology between the x and y chromosomes. despite its established importance for meiosis, the par is rapidly evolving, raising the question of how proper x/y segregation is buffered against the acc ...201728100589
olfactory assessment of competitors to the nest site: an experiment on a passerine species.since most avian species have been considered anosmic or microsmatic, olfaction and associated behavioural patterns have hardly been investigated. most importantly, empirical data on avian olfaction is not equally distributed among species. initial investigations focused on species with relatively big olfactory bulbs because they were thought to have better olfactory capabilities. hence, in this study we tested the ability of house sparrows (passer domesticus) to use chemical cues as parameters ...201627936093
recombination rate variation in mice from an isolated island.recombination rate is a heritable trait that varies among individuals. despite the major impact of recombination rate on patterns of genetic diversity and the efficacy of selection, natural variation in this phenotype remains poorly characterized. we present a comparison of genetic maps, sampling 1212 meioses, from a unique population of wild house mice (mus musculus domesticus) that recently colonized remote gough island. crosses to a mainland reference strain (wsb/eij) reveal pervasive variati ...201727864900
variation and evolution of the meiotic requirement for crossing over in mammals.the segregation of homologous chromosomes at the first meiotic division is dependent on the presence of at least one well-positioned crossover per chromosome. in some mammalian species, however, the genomic distribution of crossovers is consistent with a more stringent baseline requirement of one crossover per chromosome arm. given that the meiotic requirement for crossing over defines the minimum frequency of recombination necessary for the production of viable gametes, determining the chromoso ...201727838628
16s rrna amplicon sequencing for epidemiological surveys of bacteria in wildlife.the human impact on natural habitats is increasing the complexity of human-wildlife interactions and leading to the emergence of infectious diseases worldwide. highly successful synanthropic wildlife species, such as rodents, will undoubtedly play an increasingly important role in transmitting zoonotic diseases. we investigated the potential for recent developments in 16s rrna amplicon sequencing to facilitate the multiplexing of the large numbers of samples needed to improve our understanding o ...201627822541
whole genome sequence of two wild-derived mus musculus domesticus inbred strains, lewes/eij and zalende/eij, with different diploid numbers.wild-derived mouse inbred strains are becoming increasingly popular for complex traits analysis, evolutionary studies, and systems genetics. here, we report the whole-genome sequencing of two wild-derived mouse inbred strains, lewes/eij and zalende/eij, of mus musculus domesticus origin. these two inbred strains were selected based on their geographic origin, karyotype, and use in ongoing research. we generated 14× and 18× coverage sequence, respectively, and discovered over 1.1 million novel va ...201627765810
a half-century of studies on a chromosomal hybrid zone of the house mouse.the first natural chromosomal variation in the house mouse was described nearly 50 years ago in val poschiavo on the swiss side of the swiss-italian border in the central eastern alps. studies have extended into neighboring valtellina, and the house mice of the poschiavo-valtellina area have been subject to detailed analysis, reviewed here. the maximum extent of this area is 70 km, yet it has 4 metacentric races and the standard 40-chromosome telocentric race distributed in a patchwork fashion. ...201727729448
genetics of skeletal evolution in unusually large mice from gough island.organisms on islands often undergo rapid morphological evolution, providing a platform for understanding mechanisms of phenotypic change. many examples of evolution on islands involve the vertebrate skeleton. although the genetic basis of skeletal variation has been studied in laboratory strains, especially in the house mouse mus musculus domesticus, the genetic determinants of skeletal evolution in natural populations remain poorly understood. we used house mice living on the remote gough islan ...201627694627
parasites and invasions: changes in gastrointestinal helminth assemblages in invasive and native rodents in senegal.understanding why some exotic species become widespread and abundant in their colonised range is a fundamental issue that still needs to be addressed. among many hypotheses, newly established host populations may benefit from a parasite loss ("enemy release" hypothesis) through impoverishment of their original parasite communities or reduced infection levels. moreover, the fitness of competing native hosts may be negatively affected by the acquisition of exotic taxa from invaders ("parasite spil ...201627670366
age-related changes in locomotor performance reveal a similar pattern for caenorhabditis elegans, mus domesticus, canis familiaris, equus caballus, and homo sapiens.locomotion is one of the major physiological functions for most animals. previous studies have described aging mechanisms linked to locomotor performance among different species. however, the precise dynamics of these age-related changes, and their interactions with development and senescence, are largely unknown. here, we use the same conceptual framework to describe locomotor performances in caenorhabditis elegans, mus domesticus, canis familiaris, equus caballus, and homo sapiens. we show tha ...201727522057
leptospira interrogans in rodents from cape verde.leptospirosis is an important worldwide zoonotic disease that can infect both animals and humans. in most cases, leptospirosis is a nonspecific self-limiting illness, but some patients can develop a severe form with a high mortality. this study was carried out in santiago island, cape verde, in 2012-2013. a total of 62 wild rodents (rattus rattus and mus domesticus) were analyzed. the lipl32 gene, present only in pathogenic leptospira spp., was amplified by pcr, and 16 samples were positive (25. ...201627482622
empirical demonstration of hybrid chromosomal races in house mice.western house mice (mus musculus domesticus) and common shrews (sorex araneus) are important models for study of chromosomal speciation. both had ancestral karyotypes consisting of telocentric chromosomes, and each is subdivided into numerous chromosomal races many of which have resulted from fixation of new mutations (robertsonian fusions and whole-arm reciprocal translocations). however, some chromosomal races in both species may alternatively have originated through hybridization, with partic ...201627287407
craniofacial shape transition across the house mouse hybrid zone: implications for the genetic architecture and evolution of between-species differences.craniofacial shape differences between taxa have often been linked to environmental adaptation, e.g., new food sources, or have been studied in the context of domestication. evidence for the genetic basis of such phenotypic differences to date suggests that between-species as well as between-population variation has an oligogenic basis, i.e., few loci of large effect explain most of the variation. in mice, it has been shown that within-population craniofacial variation has a highly polygenic bas ...201627216933
study of the efficiency of anticoagulant rodenticides to control mus musculus domesticus introgressed with mus spretus vkorc1.antivitamin k anticoagulant (avk) rodenticides are commonly used to control rodent pests worldwide. they specifically inhibit the vkorc1 enzyme essential for the recycling of vitamin k, and thus prevent blood clotting and cause death by haemorrhage. numerous mutations or polymorphisms of the vkorc1 gene were reported in rodents, and some led to resistance to rodenticides. in house mice (mus musculus domesticus), adaptive introgression of the vkorc1 gene from the algerian mouse (mus spretus) was ...201727196872
genetic differentiation within and away from the chromosomal rearrangements characterising hybridising chromosomal races of the western house mouse (mus musculus domesticus).the importance of chromosomal rearrangements for speciation can be inferred from studies of genetic exchange between hybridising chromosomal races within species. reduced fertility or recombination suppression in karyotypic hybrids has the potential to maintain or promote genetic differentiation in genomic regions near rearrangement breakpoints. we studied genetic exchange between two hybridising groups of chromosomal races of house mouse in upper valtellina (lombardy, italy), using microsatelli ...201627048372
a continuous correlated beta process model for genetic ancestry in admixed populations.admixture and recombination create populations and genomes with genetic ancestry from multiple source populations. analyses of genetic ancestry in admixed populations are relevant for trait and disease mapping, studies of speciation, and conservation efforts. consequently, many methods have been developed to infer genome-average ancestry and to deconvolute ancestry into continuous local ancestry blocks or tracts within individuals. current methods for local ancestry inference perform well when a ...201626966908
speeding up growth: selection for mass-independent maximal metabolic rate alters growth rates.investigations into relationships between life-history traits, such as growth rate and energy metabolism, typically focus on basal metabolic rate (bmr). in contrast, investigators rarely examine maximal metabolic rate (mmr) as a relevant metric of energy metabolism, even though it indicates the maximal capacity to metabolize energy aerobically, and hence it might also be important in trade-offs. we studied the relationship between energy metabolism and growth in mice (mus musculus domesticus lin ...201626913943
chromosomal rearrangements, phenotypic variation and modularity: a case study from a contact zone between house mouse robertsonian races in central italy.the western european house mouse, mus musculus domesticus, is well-known for the high frequency of robertsonian fusions that have rapidly produced more than 50 karyotipic races, making it an ideal model for studying the mechanisms of chromosomal speciation. the mouse mandible is one of the traits studied most intensively to investigate the effect of robertsonian fusions on phenotypic variation within and between populations. this complex bone structure has also been widely used to study the leve ...201626855768
phylogeny and adaptation shape the teeth of insular mice.by accompanying human travels since prehistorical times, the house mouse dispersed widely throughout the world, and colonized many islands. the origin of the travellers determined the phylogenetic source of the insular mice, which encountered diverse ecological and environmental conditions on the various islands. insular mice are thus an exceptional model to disentangle the relative role of phylogeny, ecology and climate in evolution. molar shape is known to vary according to phylogeny and to re ...201626842576
reaction norms of host immunity, host fitness and parasite performance in a mouse--intestinal nematode interaction.the outcome of the encounter between a host and a parasite depends on the synergistic effects of the genetics of the two partners and the environment (sensulato) where the interaction takes place. reaction norms can depict how host and parasite traits vary across environmental ranges for different genotypes. here, we performed a large scale experiment where three strains of laboratory mice (sjl, balb/c and cba) were infected with four doses of the intestinal nematode heligmosomoides polygyrus. a ...201626627846
dynamics of a tularemia outbreak in a closely monitored free-roaming population of wild house mice.infectious disease outbreaks can be devastating because of their sudden occurrence, as well as the complexity of monitoring and controlling them. outbreaks in wildlife are even more challenging to observe and describe, especially when small animals or secretive species are involved. modeling such infectious disease events is relevant to investigating their dynamics and is critical for decision makers to accomplish outbreak management. tularemia, caused by the bacterium francisella tularensis, is ...201526536232
generation of xenomitochondrial embryonic stem cells for the production of live xenomitochondrial mice.the unique features of the mitochondrial genome, such as its high copy number and lack of defined mechanisms of recombination, have hampered efforts to manipulate its sequence to create specific mutations in mouse mtdna. as such, the generation of in vivo mouse models of mtdna disease has proved technically challenging. this chapter describes a unique approach to create mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (oxphos) defects in mouse es cells by transferring mtdna from different murid species i ...201626530681
sperm competition risk drives plasticity in seminal fluid composition.ejaculates contain a diverse mixture of sperm and seminal fluid proteins, the combination of which is crucial to male reproductive success under competitive conditions. males should therefore tailor the production of different ejaculate components according to their social environment, with particular sensitivity to cues of sperm competition risk (i.e. how likely it is that females will mate promiscuously). here we test this hypothesis using an established vertebrate model system, the house mous ...201526507392
shaking the myth: body mass, aggression, steroid hormones, and social dominance in wild house mouse.in social mammals, the position of a male in the group's hierarchy strongly affects his reproductive success. since a high social rank is often gained through competition with other males, selection should favour bigger males over smaller ones. we may therefore predict faster growth and/or delayed sexual maturity in dominant males. likewise, dominants should have higher levels of testosterone, hormone important in many aspects of male dominance. less obvious is the relationship between dominance ...201526433061
new metacentric populations and phylogenetic hypotheses involving whole-arm reciprocal translocation in mus musculus domesticus from sicily, southern italy.the house mouse mus musculus domesticus is characterized by more than 100 metacentric populations, due to the occurrence of robertsonian (rb) fusions, together with the standard all-telocentric karyotype (2n = 40). we examined g-banded karyotypes of 18 mice from 10 localities in sicily and describe 3 new metacentric populations: 'ragusa ibla' (irag), 2n = 33-36, rb(2.4), rb(5.6), rb(9.16), rb(13.17); 'piana degli albanesi' (ipia), 2n = 23, rb(1.18), rb(2.15), rb(3.5), rb(4.12), rb(6.11), rb(7.8) ...201526361346
[the role of hybrid zones in speciation: a case study on chromosome races of the house mouse mus domesticus and common shrew sorex araneus].although diverse complexes of chromosome races are of rather rare occurrence in mammals, that does not reduce its importance to insignificant phenomenon not worthy of studying as some unique case without direct analogy. moreover, these complexes present virtually ideal models for estimation of the impact of hybridization on the process of microevolution. the chromosome races are characterized by almost zero level of genetic differentiation and well-defined distinctions, usually induced by chromo ...201526353396
ultrasonic vocalizations of male mice differ among species and females show assortative preferences for male calls.male house mice (mus musculus) emit ultrasonic vocalizations (usvs) during courtship, which attract females, and we aimed to test whether females use these vocalizations for species or subspecies recognition of potential mates. we recorded courtship usvs of males from different mus species, mus musculus subspecies, and populations (f1 offspring of wild-caught mus musculus musculus, mus musculus domesticus (and f1 hybrid crosses), and mus spicilegus), and we conducted playback experiments to meas ...201526309246
bank voles (myodes glareolus) and house mice (mus musculus musculus; m. m. domesticus) in europe are each parasitized by their own distinct species of aspiculuris (nematoda, oxyurida).the molecular phylogeny and morphology of the oxyuroid nematode genus aspiculuris from voles and house mice has been examined. worms collected from myodes glareolus in poland, eire and the uk are identified as aspiculuris tianjinensis, previously known only from china, while worms from mus musculus from a range of locations in europe and from laboratory mice, all conformed to the description of aspiculuris tetraptera. worms from voles and house mice are not closely related and are not derived fr ...201526302680
speciation and reduced hybrid female fertility in house mice.in mammals, intrinsic postzygotic isolation has been well studied in males but has been less studied in females, despite the fact that female gametogenesis and pregnancy provide arenas for hybrid sterility or inviability that are absent in males. here, we asked whether inviability or sterility is observed in female hybrids of mus musculus domesticus and m. m. musculus, taxa which hybridize in nature and for which male sterility has been well characterized. we looked for parent-of-origin growth p ...201526299202
endogenous murine leukemia retroviral variation across wild european and inbred strains of house mouse.endogenous murine leukemia retroviruses (mlvs) are high copy number proviral elements difficult to comprehensively characterize using standard low throughput sequencing approaches. however, high throughput approaches generate data that is challenging to process, interpret and present.201526282858
the gut microbiota of wild mice.the gut microbiota profoundly affects the biology of its host. the composition of the microbiota is dynamic and is affected by both host genetic and many environmental effects. the gut microbiota of laboratory mice has been studied extensively, which has uncovered many of the effects that the microbiota can have. this work has also shown that the environments of different research institutions can affect the mouse microbiota. there has been relatively limited study of the microbiota of wild mice ...201526258484
colonization history shaped the immunity of the western house mouse.the general development of immune response in the short and long term is a product of the antigenic environment in which a species resides. colonization of a novel antigenic environment by a species would be expected to alter the immune system. animals that successfully adapt their immune responses will successfully colonize new locations. however, founder events associated with colonization by limited numbers of individuals from a source population will constrain adaptability. how these contrad ...201526205199
the pace of hybrid incompatibility evolution in house mice.hybrids between species are often sterile or inviable. this form of reproductive isolation is thought to evolve via the accumulation of mutations that interact to reduce fitness when combined in hybrids. mathematical formulations of this "dobzhansky-muller model" predict an accelerating buildup of hybrid incompatibilities with divergence time (the "snowball effect"). although the dobzhansky-muller model is widely accepted, the snowball effect has only been tested in two species groups. we evalua ...201526199234
genetics of rapid and extreme size evolution in island mice.organisms on islands provide a revealing window into the process of adaptation. populations that colonize islands often evolve substantial differences in body size from their mainland relatives. although the ecological drivers of this phenomenon have received considerable attention, its genetic basis remains poorly understood. we use house mice (subspecies: mus musculus domesticus) from remote gough island to provide a genetic portrait of rapid and extreme size evolution. in just a few hundred g ...201526199233
divergence patterns of genic copy number variation in natural populations of the house mouse (mus musculus domesticus) reveal three conserved genes with major population-specific expansions.copy number variation represents a major source of genetic divergence, yet the evolutionary dynamics of genic copy number variation in natural populations during differentiation and adaptation remain unclear. we applied a read depth approach to genome resequencing data to detect copy number variants (cnvs) ≥1 kb in wild-caught mice belonging to four populations of mus musculus domesticus. we complemented the bioinformatics analyses with experimental validation using droplet digital pcr. the spec ...201526149421
genetic and phenotypic influences on copulatory plug survival in mice.across a diversity of animals, male seminal fluid coagulates upon ejaculation to form a hardened structure known as a copulatory plug. previous studies suggest that copulatory plugs evolved as a mechanism for males to impede remating by females, but detailed investigations into the time course over which plugs survive in the female's reproductive tract are lacking. here, we cross males from eight inbred strains to females from two inbred strains of house mice (mus musculus domesticus). plug surv ...201526103947
quantitative changes in gimap3 and gimap5 expression modify mitochondrial dna segregation in mice.mammalian mitochondrial dna (mtdna) is a high-copy maternally inherited genome essential for aerobic energy metabolism. mutations in mtdna can lead to heteroplasmy, the co-occurence of two different mtdna variants in the same cell, which can segregate in a tissue-specific manner affecting the onset and severity of mitochondrial dysfunction. to investigate mechanisms regulating mtdna segregation we use a heteroplasmic mouse model with two polymorphic neutral mtdna haplotypes (nzb and balb) that d ...201525808953
effect of the y chromosome on testis weight in mice.we investigated the effect of the y chromosome on testis weight in (b6.cg-a(y) × y-consomic mouse strain) f1 male mice. we obtained the following results: (1) mice with the mus musculus domesticus-type y chromosome had significantly heavier testis than those with the m. m. musculus-type y chromosome. (2) variations in usp9y and the number of cag repeats in sry were significantly associated with testes weight. the a(y) allele was correlated with a reduced testis weight, and the extent of this red ...201525716571
maternal-foetal genomic conflict and speciation: no evidence for hybrid placental dysplasia in crosses between two house mouse subspecies.interspecific hybridization between closely related mammalian species, including various species of the genus mus, is commonly associated with abnormal growth of the placenta and hybrid foetuses, a phenomenon known as hybrid placental dysplasia (hpd). the role of hpd in speciation is anticipated but still poorly understood. here, we studied placental and foetal growth in f1 crosses between four inbred mouse strains derived from two house mouse subspecies, mus musculus musculus and mus musculus d ...201525682889
correction: a role for ultrasonic vocalisation in social communication and divergence of natural populations of the house mouse (mus musculus domesticus).[this corrects the article doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097244.].201525635773
evolutionary change in testes tissue composition among experimental populations of house mice.theory assumes that postcopulatory sexual selection favors increased investment in testes size because greater numbers of sperm within the ejaculate increase the chance of success in sperm competition, and larger testes are able to produce more sperm. however, changes in the organization of the testes tissue may also affect sperm production rates. indeed, recent comparative analyses suggest that sperm competition selects for greater proportions of sperm-producing tissue within the testes. here, ...201525600637
sperm morphology in two house mouse subspecies: do wild-derived strains and wild mice tell the same story?being subject to intense post-copulatory selection, sperm size is a principal determining component of male fitness. although previous studies have presented comparative sperm size data at higher taxonomic levels, information on the evolution of sperm size within species is generally lacking. here, we studied two house mouse subspecies, mus musculus musculus and mus musculus domesticus, which undergo incipient speciation. we measured four sperm dimensions from cauda epididymis smears of 28 wild- ...201425541964
interspecific introgressive origin of genomic diversity in the house mouse.we report on a genome-wide scan for introgression between the house mouse (mus musculus domesticus) and the algerian mouse (mus spretus), using samples from the ranges of sympatry and allopatry in africa and europe. our analysis reveals wide variability in introgression signatures along the genomes, as well as across the samples. we find that fewer than half of the autosomes in each genome harbor all detectable introgression, whereas the x chromosome has none. further, european mice carry more m ...201525512534
socially mediated polyandry: a new benefit of communal nesting in mammals.in many species, females have evolved behavioral strategies to reduce the risk of infanticide. for instance, polyandry can create paternity confusion that inhibits males from killing offspring they could have sired. here, the authors propose that females could socially obtain the same benefits by nesting communally. singly sired litters could be perceived as a large multiply sired litter once pooled together in a single nest. long-term data from a wild house mouse population showed that monandro ...201425419087
non-random occurrence of robertsonian translocations in the house mouse (mus musculus domesticus): is it related to quantitative variation in the minor satellite?the house mouse, mus musculus domesticus, shows extraordinary chromosomal diversity driven by fixation of robertsonian (rb) translocations. the high frequency of this rearrangement, which involves the centromeric regions, has been ascribed to the architecture of the satellite sequence (high quantity and homogeneity). this promotes centromere-related translocations through unequal recombination and gene conversion. a characteristic feature of rb variation in this subspecies is the non-random cont ...201425401386
of mice and the 'age of discovery': the complex history of colonization of the azorean archipelago by the house mouse (mus musculus) as revealed by mitochondrial dna variation.humans have introduced many species onto remote oceanic islands. the house mouse (mus musculus) is a human commensal and has consequently been transported to oceanic islands around the globe as an accidental stowaway. the history of these introductions can tell us not only about the mice themselves but also about the people that transported them. following a phylogeographic approach, we used mitochondrial d-loop sequence variation (within an 849- to 864-bp fragment) to study house mouse coloniza ...201525394749
aneuploidy in spermatids of robertsonian (rb) chromosome heterozygous mice.rb translocations are chromosomal rearrangements frequently found in natural populations of the house mouse mus musculus domesticus. the standard diploid karyotype of the house mouse consisting of 40 telocentric chromosomes may be reduced by the emergence of metacentric rb chromosomes. multiple simple rb heterozygotes form trivalents exhibiting higher anaphase nondisjunction frequency and consequently higher number of unbalanced gametes than in normal males. this work will attempt to establish w ...201425385393
evidence of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (lcmv) in domestic mice in gabon: risk of emergence of lcmv encephalitis in central africa.lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (lcmv) can cause acute fatal disease on all continents but was never detected in africa. we report the first detection of lcmv rna in a common european house mouse (mus musculus domesticus) in africa. phylogenetic analyses show a close relationship with north american strains. these findings suggest that there is a risk of the appearance of lcmv acute encephalitis cases. this is a perfect example of virus dissemination by its natural host that may have dramatic ...201525378495
murine cytomegalovirus is not restricted to the house mouse mus musculus domesticus: prevalence and genetic diversity in the european house mouse hybrid zone.murine cytomegalovirus (mcmv) is a betaherpesvirus of the house mouse, mus musculus domesticus. it is a common infectious agent of wild mice and a highly studied pathogen of the laboratory mouse. betaherpesviruses are specific to their hosts, and it is not known if other mus taxa carry mcmv or if it is restricted to m. m. domesticus. we sampled mice over a 145-km transect of bavaria-bohemia crossing a hybrid zone between m. m. domesticus and mus musculus musculus in order to investigate the occu ...201525320317
use of a natural hybrid zone for genomewide association mapping of craniofacial traits in the house mouse.the identification of the genes involved in morphological variation in nature is still a major challenge. here, we explore a new approach: we combine 178 samples from a natural hybrid zone between two subspecies of the house mouse (mus musculus domesticus and mus musculus musculus), and high coverage of the genome (~ 145k snps) to identify loci underlying craniofacial shape variation. due to the long history of recombination in the hybrid zone, high mapping resolution is anticipated. the combina ...201425319559
the laboratory mouse and wild immunology.the laboratory mouse, mus musculus domesticus, has been the workhorse of the very successful laboratory study of mammalian immunology. these studies--discovering how the mammalian immune system can work--have allowed the development of the field of wild immunology that is seeking to understand how the immune responses of wild animals contributes to animals' fitness. remarkably, there have hardly been any studies of the immunology of wild m. musculus domesticus (or of rats, another common laborat ...201525303494
female social preference for males that have evolved via monogamy: evidence of a trade-off between pre- and post-copulatory sexually selected traits?when females mate with multiple males both pre- and post-copulatory sexual selections occur. it has been suggested that females benefit from polyandry when better-quality males are successful in sperm competition and sire high-quality offspring. indeed, studies of experimental evolution have confirmed that sperm competition selects for both increased ejaculate quality and elevated offspring viability. fewer investigations have explored whether these fitness benefits are evident beyond early life ...201425296931
no evidence of conpopulation sperm precedence between allopatric populations of house mice.investigations into the evolution of reproductive barriers have traditionally focused on closely related species, and the prevalence of conspecific sperm precedence. the effectiveness of conspecific sperm precedence at limiting gene exchange between species suggests that gametic isolation is an important component of reproductive isolation. however, there is a paucity of tests for evidence of sperm precedence during the earlier stages of divergence, for example among isolated populations. here, ...201425295521
genetic differentiation of hypothalamus parentally biased transcripts in populations of the house mouse implicate the prader-willi syndrome imprinted region as a possible source of behavioral divergence.parentally biased expression of transcripts (genomic imprinting) in adult tissues, including the brain, can influence and possibly drive the evolution of behavioral traits. we have previously found that paternally determined cues are involved in population-specific mate choice decisions between two populations of the western house mouse (mus musculus domesticus). here, we ask whether this could be mediated by genomically imprinted transcripts that are subject to fast differentiation between thes ...201425172960
comparative study of the molecular variation between 'central' and 'peripheral' mups and significance for behavioural signalling.mups (major urinary proteins) play an important role in chemical signalling in rodents and possibly other animals. in the house mouse (mus musculus domesticus) mups in urine and other bodily fluids trigger a range of behavioural responses that are only partially understood. there are at least 21 mup genes in the c57bl/6 mouse genome, all located on chromosome 4, encoding sequences of high similarity. further analysis separates the mups into two groups, the 'central' near-identical mups with over ...201425109970
phylogeography of chinese house mice (mus musculus musculus/castaneus): distribution, routes of colonization and geographic regions of hybridization.house mice (mus musculus) are human commensals and have served as a primary model in biomedical, ecological and evolutionary research. although there is detailed knowledge of the biogeography of house mice in europe, little is known of the history of house mice in china, despite the fact that china encompasses an enormous portion of their range. in the present study, 535 house mice caught from 29 localities in china were studied by sequencing the mitochondrial d-loop and genotyping 10 nuclear mi ...201425065953
the robertsonian phenomenon in the house mouse: mutation, meiosis and speciation.many different chromosomal races with reduced chromosome number due to the presence of robertsonian fusion metacentrics have been described in western europe and northern africa, within the distribution area of the western house mouse mus musculus domesticus. this subspecies of house mouse has become the ideal model for studies to elucidate the processes of chromosome mutation and fixation that lead to the formation of chromosomal races and for studies on the impact of chromosome heterozygositie ...201425053180
bivalent associations in mus domesticus 2n = 40 spermatocytes. are they random?the establishment of associations between bivalents from mus domesticus 2n = 40 spermatocytes is a common phenomenon that shows up during the first prophase of meiotic nuclei. in each nucleus, a seemingly random display of variable size clusters of bivalents in association is observed. these associations originate a particular nuclear architecture and determine the probability of encounters between chromosome domains. hence, the type of randomness in associations between bivalents has nontrivial ...201425033783
robertsonian chromosomes and the nuclear architecture of mouse meiotic prophase spermatocytes.the nuclear architecture of meiotic prophase spermatocytes is based on higher-order patterns of spatial associations among chromosomal domains from different bivalents. the meiotic nuclear architecture depends on the chromosome characteristics and consequently is prone to modification by chromosomal rearrangements. in this work, we consider mus domesticus spermatocytes with diploid chromosome number 2n = 40, all telocentric, and investigate a possible modification of the ancestral nuclear archit ...201425027603
effect of the y chromosome on plasma high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in y-chromosome-consomic mouse strains.plasma high-density lipoprotein (hdl)-cholesterol level is a clinically important quantitative phenotype that widely varies among inbred mouse strains. several genes or loci associated with plasma hdl-cholesterol levels have been identified on autosomes and the x chromosome. in contrast, genes or loci on the y chromosome have not attracted significant attention hitherto. therefore, we investigated the effects of the y chromosome on plasma hdl-cholesterol levels in y- chromosome-consomic (y-conso ...201424962540
intermittent stimulation and delay of puberty by urinary chemosignals and social contact in wild stock female house mice (mus domesticus).a sequence of six experiments using wild stock house mouse (mus domesticus) tested the effects of intermittent stimulation with either the urinary chemosignal released by grouped female mice or social contact from grouped females on the age of first vaginal oestrus in young females. weanling female mice were exposed to bedding soiled by grouped females or cages containing grouped females for 15 min periods, then removed for a prescribed period, and placed again in a cage with soiled bedding or g ...198924925782
functional analysis of maternal aggression in the house mouse (mus musculus domesticus).the presumed function of maternal aggression as a means to protect the young from infanticidal conspecifics was tested. lactating females attacked male intruders regardless of their potential for infanticide and intrasexual aggression (as previously screened). the level of aggression of the male intruder rather than his infanticidal potential, influenced both the mother's latency to attack and the possibility of successful protection of her young. a lactating female's attack on a male, but not o ...199424925109
food neophobia in wild and laboratory mice (mus musculus domesticus).in a conditioned taste aversion procedure we were specifically interested in the topic of food neophobia. wild and laboratory mice were individually presented with a novel drink (0.1 % saccharin solution). compared with the daily water consumption, the intake of this was lower. this decrease was greater: (1) in wild than in tame populations ; (2) in random-bred (swiss-albinos) than in inbred (c57 b1/6, balb/c) strains ; (3) in f1-hybrids (either wild x tame or inbred x inbred) than in the parent ...198524924361
distribution of feeding and drinking by groups of captive house mice.locations of feeding and drinking by social groups of commensal house mice (mus domesticus), were monitored daily for 30 to 90 minutes for 1 to 3 months. eighteen foodcups and 18 water bottles were distributed in a 2.4 × 5.1 m population cage. social groups concentrated their feeding at a few of the foodcups which varied among replicates but drank from most of the water bottles. a mouse feeding at the same sites that are used by others implies that mice use social cues in choosing feeding sites. ...198524924245
an hmm-based comparative genomic framework for detecting introgression in eukaryotes.one outcome of interspecific hybridization and subsequent effects of evolutionary forces is introgression, which is the integration of genetic material from one species into the genome of an individual in another species. the evolution of several groups of eukaryotic species has involved hybridization, and cases of adaptation through introgression have been already established. in this work, we report on phylonet-hmm-a new comparative genomic framework for detecting introgression in genomes. phy ...201424922281
copy number variants and selective sweeps in natural populations of the house mouse (mus musculus domesticus).copy-number variants (cnvs) may play an important role in early adaptations, potentially facilitating rapid divergence of populations. we describe an approach to study this question by investigating cnvs present in natural populations of mice in the early stages of divergence and their involvement in selective sweeps. we have analyzed individuals from two recently diverged natural populations of the house mouse (mus musculus domesticus) from germany and france using custom, high-density, compara ...201424917877
maternal investment of communally nursing female house mice (mus musculus domesticus).female house mice (mus musculus domesticus) belonging to the same polygynous breeding unit rear their litters communally. this paper analyzes the consequences of communal nursing on the number and weight of offspring produced. the reproductive behaviour of monogamous females was compared to that of females living in polygynous groups, consisting of either two familiar sisters or of two genetically unrelated females (unfamiliar until the age of 7 weeks). the lifetime reproductive success of a fem ...199324896472
chemosignals and activity of wild stock house mice, with a note on the use of running wheels to assess activity in rodents.two control tests and an experimental test were used to explore the effects of urinary chemosignals on activity in house mice (mus domesticus). control tests revealed that using running wheels for measurement periods of up to a week, we tested whether any of eight urinary odours or water (control) influenced activity in male and female mice that were prepubertal, pubertal, or adult.199624896417
the effect of demonstrator age and number on duration of socially-induced food preferences in house mouse (mus domesticus).present research was undertaken to investigate whether the transfer of food preference from a demonstrator mouse to an observer can be influenced by their relative age. in experiment 1 an adult female mouse, the observer, was allowed to interact with a recently-fed demonstrator which was a pup of her litter or an adult female mouse. the observer was then tested to assess whether it acquired a preference for the demonstrator's diet. the results showed that a pup demonstrator's influence on an adu ...199724896381
maternal influences on food preferences in weanling mice mus domesticus.this study has been designed to evaluate the role of social (maternal) influences on the development of feeding behaviour in mice. a large enclosure, allowing direct observation, was divided into three separate areas: a central area for the nest and two side feeding areas at opposite ends. in one the young could feed with their mother, in the other one the young had to feed on their own. three different groups were studied: one had the same food in the two feeding areas: the second had a less pa ...198924895909
genetic recombination variation in wild robertsonian mice: on the role of chromosomal fusions and prdm9 allelic background.despite the existence of formal models to explain how chromosomal rearrangements can be fixed in a population in the presence of gene flow, few empirical data are available regarding the mechanisms by which genome shuffling contributes to speciation, especially in mammals. in order to shed light on this intriguing evolutionary process, here we present a detailed empirical study that shows how robertsonian (rb) fusions alter the chromosomal distribution of recombination events during the formatio ...201424850922
genome-wide quantitative analysis of histone h3 lysine 4 trimethylation in wild house mouse liver: environmental change causes epigenetic plasticity.in mammals, exposure to toxic or disease-causing environments can change epigenetic marks that are inherited independently of the intrauterine environment. such inheritance of molecular phenotypes may be adaptive. however, studies demonstrating molecular evidence for epigenetic inheritance have so far relied on extreme treatments, and are confined to inbred animals. we therefore investigated whether epigenomic changes could be detected after a non-drastic change in the environment of an outbred ...201424849289
sequential male mate choice under sperm competition risk.male eagerness to mate is a central paradigm of sexual selection theory. however, limited sperm supplies mean that male sexual restraint might sometimes be favored under promiscuous mating. here, we demonstrate dynamic plasticity in male mating effort when females are encountered sequentially under varying sperm competition risk. rather than showing consistent eagerness to mate, male house mice (mus musculus domesticus) instead tailor their mating effort according to likely reproductive payoffs. ...201424822023
a role for ultrasonic vocalisation in social communication and divergence of natural populations of the house mouse (mus musculus domesticus).it has long been known that rodents emit signals in the ultrasonic range, but their role in social communication and mating is still under active exploration. while inbred strains of house mice have emerged as a favourite model to study ultrasonic vocalisation (usv) patterns, studies in wild animals and natural situations are still rare. we focus here on two wild derived mouse populations. we recorded them in dyadic encounters for extended periods of time to assess possible roles of usvs and the ...201424816836
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