The genomes of two key bumblebee species with primitive eusocial organization

Background: The shift from solitary to social behavior is one of the major evolutionary transitions. Primitively eusocial bumblebees are uniquely placed to illuminate the evolution of highly eusocial insect societies. Bumblebees are also invaluable natural and agricultural pollinators, and there is widespread concern over recent population declines in some species. High-quality genomic data will inform key aspects of bumblebee biology, including susceptibility to implicated population viability threats. Results: We report the high quality draft genome sequences of Bombus terrestris and Bombus impatiens, two ecologically dominant bumblebees and widely utilized study species. Comparing these new genomes to those of the highly eusocial honeybee Apis mellifera and other Hymenoptera, we identify deeply conserved similarities, as well as novelties key to the biology of these organisms. Some honeybee genome features thought to underpin advanced eusociality are also present in bumblebees, indicating an earlier evolution in the bee lineage. Xenobiotic detoxification and immune genes are similarly depauperate in bumblebees and honeybees, and multiple categories of genes linked to social organization, including development and behavior, show high conservation. Key differences identified include a bias in bumblebee chemoreception towards gustation from olfaction, and striking differences in microRNAs, potentially responsible for gene regulation underlying social and other traits. Conclusions: These two bumblebee genomes provide a foundation for post-genomic research on these key pollinators and insect societies. Overall, gene repertoires suggest that the route to advanced eusociality in bees was mediated by many small changes in many genes and processes, and not by notable expansion or depauperation

Pathogenic Intestinal Bacteria Enhance Prostate Cancer Development via Systemic Activation of Immune Cells in Mice

A role for microbes has been suspected in prostate cancer but difficult to confirm in human patients. We show here that a gastrointestinal (GI) tract bacterial infection is sufficient to enhance prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and microinvasive carcinoma in a mouse model. We found that animals with a genetic predilection for dysregulation of wnt signaling, Apc[superscript Min/+] mutant mice, were significantly susceptible to prostate cancer in an inflammation-dependent manner following infection with Helicobacter hepaticus. Further, early neoplasia observed in infected Apc[superscript Min/+] mice was transmissible to uninfected mice by intraperitoneal injection of mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells alone from H. hepaticus-infected mutant mice. Transmissibility of neoplasia was preventable by prior neutralization of inflammation using anti-TNF-α antibody in infected MLN donor mice. Taken together, these data confirm that systemic inflammation triggered by GI tract bacteria plays a pivotal role in tumorigenesis of the prostate gland.RO1CA108854National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Center for Environmental Health Sciences Pilot Project Award P30-ES002109

RELAÇÕES ENTRE PODER E SUBJETIVIDADE EM UMA ORGANIZAÇÃO FAMILIAR

Neste artigo, o objetivo é discutir os vínculos entre indivíduo e organização, que caracterizam a permanência, ou não, de sujeitos indicados como sucessores na empresa da família, tendo como base de análise as categorias inter-relacionadas de subjetividade e poder. Tal propósito originou uma pesquisa qualitativa, na qual o foco foram as histórias de vida dos três filhos do fundador de uma empresa familiar. No tratamento dos dados, foi usada a técnica da análise do discurso para a identificação das estratégias discursivas usadas pelos entrevistados em seus depoimentos, tendo elas sido agrupadas em duas categorias discursivas: histórias sobre o trabalho e histórias sobre a família. Na primeira categoria, a partir do mito do herói fundador, a história sobre o trabalho é romanceada, em um processo que, por meio da socialização primária, esconde o controle por intermédio da inserção de valores do pai na precoce entrada na empresa por parte dos filhos do sexo masculino. Sobre a família, os depoimentos sugerem que a empresa é sua continuação; sendo estendidos, ao negócio, os laços familiares. A empresa liga, simbólica e afetivamente, os fi lhos ao legado do pai, o que a torna um projeto de vida reapropriado e realimentado por eles. As conclusões alertam que as empresas familiares não deixam de ser empreendimentos econômicos mesmo sendo intensas em afetividade, sendo os filhos vítimas dos mesmos estratagemas que diversos autores denunciam em empresas capitalistas por aderirem a um sonho que não lhes pertence, mas que lhes cabe manter vivo

Nucleases as a barrier to gene silencing in the cotton boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis.

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