microPublication biology最新文献

Although cephalopods are primarily polyandrous, genetic evidence revealed rare monogamy in Watasenia scintillans . Here, we studied the sister species Enoploteuthis chunii . We found that copulation began in early July, with egg spawning occurring in early August. The sex ratio was female-biased until late August, then shifted to male-biased. After early August, the average number of sperm sacs in females exceeded that of males. As the season progresses, females began storing sperm sacs in a cryptic sperm pocket on the right lateral trunk within the mantle. This behavior is associated with male-biased sex ratio. These results suggest polyandry in E. chunii.

Bacteriophage Wheezy, a lytic phage with siphoviral morphology isolated using the host Gordonia terrae 3612, has a genome of 67,021 base pairs and is 65.9% GC. The genome sequence of Wheezy aligns most closely with subcluster CR2 phages Tracker and NatB6. Annotation of the full-length genome sequence of Phage Wheezy revealed 92 protein-coding genes and no tRNA genes.

The lim-7p::ced-1::GFP transgene has been widely used for evaluating germline apoptosis in C. elegans . Here we observed an increase in embryonic lethality in the MD701 strain that contains the lim-7p::ced-1::GFP transgene and a strain that outcrossed the lim-7p::ced-1::GFP transgene into the N2 wild-type strain. While the outcrossed strain had a significantly lower level of embryonic lethality than MD701, it still showed significantly higher embryonic lethality than wild type. Our results suggest that the presence of the lim-7p::ced-1::GFP transgene significantly increases embryonic lethality, but there may also be a secondary mutation in the MD701 strain that further increases embryonic lethality.

The centrosome is a conserved characteristic of eukaryotic and human cells but is highly specialized in reproductive cells. The spermatozoan centrosome includes a slightly modified proximal centriole, an atypical distal centriole, and specialized pericentriolar material, including striated columns and capitellum. We investigated the localization of canonical centriolar proteins CEP44 and CCDC15 in human spermatozoa. We found that CEP44 localizes mainly at the proximal centriole and distal centriole bases relative to centrin. CCDC15 colocalizes with centrin in both the proximal centriole and distal centriole. These findings further our understanding of the spermatozoan centrosome composition.

Gene model for the ortholog of glycogen synthase ( Glys ) in the Drosophila simulans May 2017 (Princeton ASM75419v2/DsimGB2) Genome Assembly (GenBank Accession: GCA_000754195.3 ). This ortholog was characterized as part of a developing dataset to study the evolution of the Insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway (IIS) across the genus Drosophila using the Genomics Education Partnership gene annotation protocol for Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences.

Disruption of the human microbiome has emerged as a major contributing factor in the etiology of neurodegenerative disease. Previous work suggests a positive correlation between periodontal inflammation and Parkinson's disease. Here, we show that feeding C. elegans animals Porphorymonas gingivalis causes neurodegeneration that is not additive with neurodegeneration induced by the Parkinson's-associated protein, α-synuclein. In contrast, α-synuclein-expressing animals fed P. gingivalis show additional disruption in basal slowing, suggesting that P. gingivalis induces neurodegeneration while altering neuronal function of extant neurons. Though the mechanism is unclear, these results suggest a relationship between P. gingivalis and neurodegeneration that warrants further investigation.

The present study investigated whether saccharin, a non-caloric sweetener, induces conditioned bottle-position preference in mice. In a two-bottle preference test, the mice initially preferred water from a specific side. When saccharin was introduced on the opposite side, the mice showed increased total intake and a preference for the position of the saccharin bottle. After saccharin removal, the preference for the saccharin-associated position persisted for one day but disappeared by the next day. These findings suggest that saccharin intake drives associative learning between its presence and bottle position, influencing subsequent decision-making and motivation to consume from the previously saccharin-associated position.

Bacteriophages Biscayne, Bush and GreenIvy were isolated from soil samples in Miami, FL using Microbacterium foliorum NRRL B-24224 as host. Transmission electron microscopy shows siphoviral morphologies for all three phages. Based on gene content similarity to other actinobacteriophages, they are assigned to the EE, GA and EA5 clusters, respectively.

Bacteriophage WestPM is a siphoviral-like phage infecting Microbacterium foliorum isolated from environmental samples collected on Pensacola Beach, FL. The genome of this phage is 39,693 bp long and contains 59 predicted protein-coding genes and zero tRNA genes. Based on gene content similarity, WestPM is grouped in the actinobacteriophage EA11 subcluster.

Gordonia phage Petito is a newly discovered siphovirus that infects Gordonia rubripertincta NRRL B-16540. The double-stranded DNA genome of this phage is 60,447 bp long with 93 predicted protein-coding genes and no tRNAs. Petito is a Cluster DJ phage.