Help or hindrance? The evolutionary impact of whole‐genome duplication on immunogenetic diversity and parasite load

Whole‐genome duplication (WGD) events occur in all kingdoms and have been hypothesized to promote adaptability. WGDs identified in the early history of vertebrates, teleosts, and angiosperms have been linked to the large‐scale diversification of these lineages. However, the mechanics and full outcomes of WGD regarding potential evolutionary impacts remain a topic of debate. The Corydoradinae are a diverse subfamily of Neotropical catfishes with over 170 species described and a history of WGDs. They are divided into nine mtDNA lineages, with species coexisting in sympatric—and often mimetic—communities containing representatives of two or more of the nine lineages. Given their similar life histories, coexisting species of Corydoras might be exposed to similar parasite loads and because of their different histories of WGD and genome size they provide a powerful system for investigating the impacts of WGD on immune diversity and function in an animal system. Here, we compared parasite counts and the diversity of the immune‐related toll‐like receptors (TLR) in two coexisting species of Corydoras catfish (C. maculifer and C. araguaiaensis), one diploid and one putative tetraploid. In the putative tetraploid C. araguaiaensis, we found significantly lower numbers of parasites and significantly higher diversity (measured by both synonymous and nonsynonymous SNP counts) in two TLR genes than in the diploid C. maculifer. These results provide insight into how WGD may impact evolution, in this case by providing greater immunogenetic diversity

Removal of beneficial insertion effects prevent the long-term persistence of transposable elements within simulated asexual populations

Background: Transposable elements are significant components of most organism’s genomes, yet the reasons why their abundances vary significantly among species is poorly understood. A recent study has suggested that even in the absence of traditional molecular evolutionary explanations, transposon proliferation may occur through a process known as ‘transposon engineering’. However, their model used a fixed beneficial transposon insertion frequency of 20%, which we believe to be unrealistically high. Results: Reducing this beneficial insertion frequency, while keeping all other parameters identical, prevented transposon proliferation. Conclusions: We conclude that the author’s original findings are better explained through the action of positive selection rather than ‘transposon engineering’, with beneficial insertion effects remaining important during transposon proliferation events

Field‐based adipose tissue quantification in sea turtles using bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy validated with CT scans and deep learning

Loss of adipose tissue in vertebrate wildlife species is indicative of decreased nutritional and health status and is linked to environmental stress and diseases. Body condition indices (BCI) are commonly used in ecological studies to estimate adipose tissue mass across wildlife populations. However, these indices have poor predictive power, which poses the need for quantitative methods for improved population assessments. Here, we calibrate bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) as an alternative approach for assessing the nutritional status of vertebrate wildlife in ecological studies. BIS is a portable technology that can estimate body composition from measurements of body impedance and is widely used in humans. BIS is a predictive technique that requires calibration using a reference body composition method. Using sea turtles as model organisms, we propose a calibration protocol using computed tomography (CT) scans, with the prediction equation being: adipose tissue mass (kg) = body mass − (−0.03 [intercept] − 0.29 * length2/resistance at 50 kHz + 1.07 * body mass − 0.11 * time after capture). CT imaging allows for the quantification of body fat. However, processing the images manually is prohibitive due to the extensive time requirement. Using a form of artificial intelligence (AI), we trained a computer model to identify and quantify nonadipose tissue from the CT images, and adipose tissue was determined by the difference in body mass. This process enabled estimating adipose tissue mass from bioelectrical impedance measurements. The predictive performance of the model was built on 2/3 samples and tested against 1/3 samples. Prediction of adipose tissue percentage had greater accuracy when including impedance parameters (mean bias = 0.11%–0.61%) as predictor variables, compared with using body mass alone (mean bias = 6.35%). Our standardized BIS protocol improves on conventional body composition assessment methods (e.g., BCI) by quantifying adipose tissue mass. The protocol can be applied to other species for the validation of BIS and to provide robust information on the nutritional and health status of wildlife, which, in turn, can be used to inform conservation decisions at the management level

Chytrid epidemics may increase genetic diversity of a diatom spring-bloom

Contrary to expectation, populations of clonal organisms are often genetically highly diverse. In phytoplankton, this diversity is maintained throughout periods of high population growth (that is, blooms), even though competitive exclusion among genotypes should hypothetically lead to the dominance of a few superior genotypes. Genotype-specific parasitism may be one mechanism that helps maintain such high-genotypic diversity of clonal organisms. Here, we present a comparison of population genetic similarity by estimating the beta-dispersion among genotypes of early and peak bloom populations of the diatom Asterionella formosa for three spring-blooms under high or low parasite pressure. The Asterionella population showed greater beta-dispersion at peak bloom than early bloom in the 2 years with high parasite pressure, whereas the within group dispersion did not change under low parasite pressure. Our findings support that high prevalence parasitism can promote genetic diversification of natural populations of clonal hosts

Demonstrable Evidence of Beneficial Physical Outcomes from University Physical Education Activity Courses

Introduction: Engagement in physical activity (PA) is often dramatically reduced during the transition from high school into college. There appears to be more stability in PA patterns during the transition from college into post-graduate life. Consequently, researchers have highlighted the years in higher education as pivotal for shaping lasting PA habits. Sadly, there is a widespread lack of evidence regarding the outcomes from physical education activity courses (PEAC) offered on campuses of higher education. Thus, their overall value lacks validation. The purpose of this work was to offer evidence of outcomes from engagement in a single, semester-long university PEAC class. Methods: Students were recruited from a variety of classes. There were no directions provided to the instructors of the courses. For grouping, classes were categorized as aerobic- (aerobics, jogging, and walking) or sport-activity (badminton, pickle ball, self-defense, strength training, and ultimate frisbee). Students in the aerobic-activity arm were randomized to aerobic testing where they underwent a submaximal treadmill protocol and grip strength (GS) testing or body composition testing (air displacement plethysmography) and GS. Those in the sport-activity arm underwent vertical jump and GS testing. Students reported to the human performance lab in the first two and final two weeks of the semester. Paired t-tests were conducted to identify differences in pre-post outcomes. Values were carried forward, not dropped, when a subject failed to return at post-test. Results: A total of 46 students (age = 21.7 ± 4.1) were randomized into the aerobic (n=25; m/f = 11/14) or body composition arms (n=21; m/f = 7/14). Additionally, 45 students (age = 20.8 ± 3.2; m/f = 23/22) from sport-activity classes were enrolled. Participation in aerobic-activity classes resulted in improvements in estimated maximal aerobic ability (p = 0.030; 42.9 ± 9.9 vs. 44.6 ± 10.1). Participation also resulted in increases in GS for those allocated to both the aerobic (p = 0.010; 56.4 ± 21.5 vs. 60.3 ± 22.3) and body composition (p = 0.022; 54.1 ± 22.1 vs. 58.1 ± 24.6) arms. Participation did not result in changes in body composition (p = 0.817; 24.7 ± 8.5 vs. 24.6 ± 7.4) despite a near-significant increase in weight (p = 0.057; 152.7 ± 38.5 vs. 154.5 ± 37.7). Participation in sport-activity classes resulted in an improvement in vertical jump (p = 0.007; 18.2 ± 6.1 vs. 18.9 ± 6.0) and GS (p = 0.002; 65.3 ± 25.6 vs. 70.0 ± 27.8). Discussion: An important first step in rebutting challenges about the credibility and worthiness of PEAC offerings is evidencing beneficial outcomes. These results represent simple, but important, markers of change. Additional demonstrable evidence is needed to ascertain elements such as what outcomes are achievable, what classes are most effective classes, and what components from class support lasting change

Survey Responses From “Wellness for Life” Classes: Overall Value and Barriers, Motivators, and Motives Towards Physical Activity

Introduction: Skill-based sport activity classes were the historical trend, but greater numbers of higher education institutions now offer courses that encompass “wellness for life” concepts. The goal of these offerings is to guide students in the development of knowledge, skills, and behaviors to adopt and maintain healthful behaviors. There is a need to amass evidence of the outcomes arising from engagement in these classes. Purpose: The purpose of this work was to document outcomes from participation in a single, semester-long, university wellness for life class. Methods: Students were recruited from courses at two universities. Survey responses were collected in the first two and final two weeks of class. The survey items included identification of: engagement in regular physical activity (PA), perceptions about PA (“view of self as an exerciser”, “contentment with current PA level”, among others), and barriers, motivators, and motives towards PA. There were no intervention suggestions provided to instructors. Results: A total of 173 students (m/f/not identified = 51/118/4; age 19.6 ± 1.4) participated. When questioned, many students identified as being an “exerciser.” Some perceived “no need to change their program” (n=37) but most “wanted more regular exercise” (n=88). A lesser number of students identified as being a “non-exerciser.” Most all “wanted more regular exercise” (n=46), but two had “no desire to start a program.” At post-test, the respective numbers were: 37, 95, 41, and 3. Numbers did not always align due to incomplete survey responses. The perceived value of the class to current and future health, rated on a scale from 0 (no impact)-100 (most influential), improved pre-post class (p \u3c 0.001) from 61.7 (±24.5) to 67.8 (±23.5). The top barrier, motivator, and motive at pre-test were: “I need to do better at managing my time to exercise more often,” “If I better organized my time or schedule I could exercise more,” and “I get pleasure or enjoy sports so I exercise,” respectively. There was shuffling among the top choices from pre- to post-test, but the top barrier remained the same. The top motivator became, “If I had more time I would exercise more,” and the top motive became, “I feel less stress after I exercise.” Discussion: Evidenced by the pre-post responses, students feel that wellness for life classes have some benefit and that perception improves after experiencing the class. There appears to be consistency in those who view themselves as “exercisers” and “non-exercisers,” which might represent a precarious situation. There is constancy in the primary barrier to exercise – the socially acceptable answer – time. It is obvious that time management is a critical element for inclusion in these classes. Students may also benefit more if instructors would offer insight on the use of motivators and motives in overcoming personal barriers

Transposable element annotation in non‐model species ‐ the benefits of species‐specific repeat libraries using semi‐automated EDTA and DeepTE de novo pipelines

Transposable elements (TEs) are significant genomic components which can be detected either through sequence homology against existing databases or de novo, with the latter potentially reducing the risk of underestimating TE abundance. Here, we describe the semi-automated generation of a de novo TE library using the newly developed EDTA pipeline and DeepTE classifier in a non-model teleost (Corydoras fulleri). Using both genomic and transcriptomic data, we assess this de novo pipeline’s performance across four TE based metrics: (i) abundance, (ii) composition, (iii) fragmentation and (iv) age distributions. We then compare the results to those found when using a curated teleost library (Danio rerio). We identify quantitative differences in these metrics and highlight how TE library choice can have major impacts on TE-based estimates in non-model species

The Grizzly, December 4, 2003

Bringing Washington to Ursinus: Congress to Campus a Success • To Give is Better than to Receive: The Season of Generosity • Saying Goodbye to the Grizzly • Opinions: Holidays Hitting you too Soon?; New Year\u27s Resolutions Through the Years; Necessary Evils of Resolutions; Intramural Sports: Not Just Fun • Final Exam Schedule • Berman Exhibit • ProTheatre Play a Success • Four Women Soccer Players Named All Conference • Men\u27s and Women\u27s Basketball off to a Good Start • Ursinus Wrestling Dominates at Home • Stanton Named Player of the Week • Steroids in Pro Sportshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1550/thumbnail.jp