A neglected conceptual problem regarding phenotypic plasticity’s role in adaptive evolution : the importance of genetic covariance and social drive

Funders: U.S. National Science Foundation (Grant Number(s): 1855962), China Scholarship Council (Grant Number(s): 201703780018), Natural Environment Research Council (Grant Number(s): IAPETUS2 PhD studentship (A.D.), NE/T0006191/1, NW/L011255/1).There is tantalizing evidence that phenotypic plasticity can buffer novel, adaptive genetic variants long enough to permit their evolutionary spread, and this process is often invoked in explanations for rapid adaptive evolution. However, the strength and generality of evidence for it is controversial. We identify a conceptual problem affecting this debate: recombination, segregation, and independent assortment are expected to quickly sever associations between genes controlling novel adaptations and genes contributing to trait plasticity that facilitates the novel adaptations by reducing their indirect fitness costs. To make clearer predictions about this role of plasticity in facilitating genetic adaptation, we describe a testable genetic mechanism that resolves the problem: genetic covariance between new adaptive variants and trait plasticity that facilitates their persistence within populations. We identify genetic architectures that might lead to such a covariance, including genetic coupling via physical linkage and pleiotropy, and illustrate the consequences for adaptation rates using numerical simulations. Such genetic covariances may also arise from the social environment, and we suggest the indirect genetic effects that result could further accentuate the process of adaptation. We call the latter mechanism of adaptation social drive, and identify methods to test it. We suggest that genetic coupling of plasticity and adaptations could promote unusually rapid ‘runaway’ evolution of novel adaptations. The resultant dynamics could facilitate evolutionary rescue, adaptive radiations, the origin of novelties, and other commonly studied processes.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Quantificação de traços de soja com kits de ELISA em biscoitos e produtos extrusados

Se evaluó la detección de trazas de soja en sistemas modelo (SM) de galletitas y extrudidos que contenían 5000, 250, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 y 0 ppm de concentrado de proteína de soja (CPS). Se analizaron, además, dos lotes diferentes de ocho clases de galletitas comerciales y dos tipos de extrudidos que declaraban la presencia de soja a través de la frase “Contiene ...” o a través de frases de advertencia. La determinación de proteínas de soja se realizó utilizando tres kits ELISA (R-Biopharm, Neogen-Veratox y Romer). Solo el kit de R-Biopharm permitió la cuantificación de soja a partir de 25 ppm de CPS en galletitas y a partir de 5 ppm de CPS en productos extrudidos. Los otros dos kits resultaron menos sensibles. De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos en el análisis de los SM de galletitas y de productos extrudidos con diferentes kits comerciales se concluye que debe estudiarse el desempeño de cada kit para cada alergeno y para cada matriz en particular. Esto permitiría establecer cuál es el método más adecuado para el control de los productos comerciales a los fines de evaluar la correcta declaración de alergenos en los respectivos rótulos.Detection of traces of soy was evaluated in cookies and extruded product model systems (MS) containing 5000, 250, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 0 ppm of soy protein concentrate (SPC). Besides, two different batches of eight different types of commercial cookies and two types of extruded products declaring soy presence through either the statement: “Contains…” or precautionary phrases were analyzed. Soy protein determination was carried out using three different commercial ELISA kits (R-Biopharm, Neogen-Veratox and Romer). Only the R-Biopharm kit allowed quantification of soy from 25 ppm of SPC in cookies and from 5 ppm of SPC in the extruded products. The other two kits had lower sensitivity. According to the results obtained in the analysis of cookies and extruded product MS with different commercial kits, it can be concluded that the performance of every kit should be studied for all allergens and each particular food matrix. This would enable establishing the most suitable method for commercial products control, in order to assess the correct allergen labeling.Avaliou-se a detecção de traços de soja em sistemas modelo (SM) de biscoitos e extrusados que continham 5000, 250, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 e 0 ppm de concentrado de proteína de soja (CPS). Analisaram-se, também dois lotes diferentes de oito tipos de biscoitos comerciais e dois tipos de extrusados que declaravam a presença de soja através da frase “Contém.... ou através de frases de advertência. A determinação de proteínas de soja foi realizada utilizando três kits ELISA (R-Biopharm, Neogen-Veratox e Romer). Apenas o kit de R-Biopharm permitiu a quantificação de soja a partir de 25 ppm de CPS em biscoitos e de a partir de 5 ppm de CPS em produtos extrusados. Os outros dois kits resultaram menos sensíveis. De acordo com os resultados obtidos na análise dos SM de biscoitos e de produtos extrusados com diferentes kits comerciais conclui-se que é preciso estudar o desempenho de cada kit para cada alergeno e para cada matriz em particular. Isto permitiria estabelecer qual é o método mais adequado para o controle dos produtos comerciais viando avaliar a correta declaração de alergenos nas respectivas etiquetas.Fil: Binaghi, Maria Julieta. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Sanidad Nutrición Bromatología y Toxicología; ArgentinaFil: Greco, Carola Beatriz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Sanidad Nutrición Bromatología y Toxicología; ArgentinaFil: Martin, María Eugenia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Sanidad Nutrición Bromatología y Toxicología; ArgentinaFil: Drago, Silvina Rosa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Ronayne de Ferrer, Patricia Ana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Sanidad Nutrición Bromatología y Toxicología; ArgentinaFil: Lopez, Laura Beatriz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Sanidad Nutrición Bromatología y Toxicología; Argentin

LncRNA MORT (ZNF667-AS1) in cancer — is there a possible role in gynecological malignancies?

Gynecological cancers (GCs) are currently among the major threats to female health. Moreover, there are different histologic subtypes of these cancers, which are defined as ‘rare’ due to an annual incidence of <6 per 100,000 women. The majority of these tend to be associated with a poor prognosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in the normal development of organisms as well as in tumorigenesis. LncRNAs can be classified into tumor suppressor genes or oncogenes, depending on their function within the cellular context and the signaling pathways in which they are involved. These regulatory RNAs are potential therapeutic targets for cancer due to their tissue and tumor specificity. However, there still needs to be a deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which lncRNAs are involved in the regulation of numerous biological functions in humans, both in normal health and disease. The lncRNA Mortal Obligate RNA Transcript (MORT; alias ZNF667-AS1) has been identified as a tumor-related lncRNA. ZNF667-AS1 gene, located in the human chromosome region 19q13.43, has been shown to be silenced by DNA hypermethylation in several cancers. In this review, we report on the biological functions of ZNF667-AS1 from recent studies and describe the regulatory functions of ZNF667-AS1 in human disease, including cancer. Furthermore, we discuss the emerging insights into the potential role of ZNF667-AS1 as a biomarker and novel therapeutic target in cancer, including GCs (ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers).peer-reviewe

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Search for eccentric black hole coalescences during the third observing run of LIGO and Virgo

Despite the growing number of confident binary black hole coalescences observed through gravitational waves so far, the astrophysical origin of these binaries remains uncertain. Orbital eccentricity is one of the clearest tracers of binary formation channels. Identifying binary eccentricity, however, remains challenging due to the limited availability of gravitational waveforms that include effects of eccentricity. Here, we present observational results for a waveform-independent search sensitive to eccentric black hole coalescences, covering the third observing run (O3) of the LIGO and Virgo detectors. We identified no new high-significance candidates beyond those that were already identified with searches focusing on quasi-circular binaries. We determine the sensitivity of our search to high-mass (total mass M&gt;70 M⊙) binaries covering eccentricities up to 0.3 at 15 Hz orbital frequency, and use this to compare model predictions to search results. Assuming all detections are indeed quasi-circular, for our fiducial population model, we place an upper limit for the merger rate density of high-mass binaries with eccentricities 0&lt;e≤0.3 at 0.33 Gpc−3 yr−1 at 90\% confidence level

Ultralight vector dark matter search using data from the KAGRA O3GK run

Among the various candidates for dark matter (DM), ultralight vector DM can be probed by laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors through the measurement of oscillating length changes in the arm cavities. In this context, KAGRA has a unique feature due to differing compositions of its mirrors, enhancing the signal of vector DM in the length change in the auxiliary channels. Here we present the result of a search for U(1)B−L gauge boson DM using the KAGRA data from auxiliary length channels during the first joint observation run together with GEO600. By applying our search pipeline, which takes into account the stochastic nature of ultralight DM, upper bounds on the coupling strength between the U(1)B−L gauge boson and ordinary matter are obtained for a range of DM masses. While our constraints are less stringent than those derived from previous experiments, this study demonstrates the applicability of our method to the lower-mass vector DM search, which is made difficult in this measurement by the short observation time compared to the auto-correlation time scale of DM

The interplay between social and environmental plasticity in the rapid adaptation of a Hawaiian field cricket (Teleogryllus oceanicus)

The role of phenotypic plasticity in genetic adaptation has been at the centre of a decades long debate. Recent research has revealed that the potential for plasticity-led adaptation is highly conditional, dependant on the intrinsic characteristics of a plastic response and the selection pressures acting on it. However, the fact that the potential for plasticity-led adaptation is susceptible to multiple environmental conditions, given that phenotypes are expressed in an interdependent ecological and social context, has been inadvertently neglected. In this thesis, I investigate the intricate relationship between social and environmental plasticity in the rapid adaptation of the Hawaiian Field Cricket (Teleogryllus oceanicus). Ancestrally reliant on acoustic signals for sexual advertising, selection from an acoustically orienting parasitoid fly (Ormia ochracea) has led to the emergence of a silent male morph (induced by the flatwing mutation). Adaptive behavioural adjustments in the new morph, coupled with permissive female choice, are thought to have accommodated the absence of an important sexual signal. Flatwing males show higher propensity to engage in phonotactic behaviour and socially-plastic locomotory activity, facilitating encounters with conspecifics. Here, I investigate how different components of the abiotic and social environments interact to shape the expression of traits that promote flatwing evolution at the behavioural and genetic level. Through dietary and social environment manipulation, Chapter 2 revealed that direct and indirect, genetic and environmental effects influenced female mating behaviour and male courtship. In Chapter 3, I identified the genetic substrate involved in socially-plastic adaptations in flatwing males. Chapter 4 showed that the outcome of social interactions between females was dependent on multiple social environment components, and Chapter 5 revealed that previously observed female preferences dissipate in a group context. These findings underscore the importance of considering multiple sources of plasticity and their interactions to fully grasp the evolutionary consequences of phenotypic plasticity

Milk Traces Detection in Cookies and Extruded Products Analyzed with Elisa Kits

Detection of milk traces was evaluated in cookies and extruded products model systems (MS) and in commercial products declaring milk presence through either the statement: “Contains…” or precautionary phrases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance of two different commercial ELISA kits for this purpose. Six cookies and extruded products model systems and two different batches of eight different types of commercial cookies and two types of extruded products were analyzed. The two different commercial ELISA kits used were R-Biopharm and Veratox-Neogen. In the cookies MS both kits had the same sensitivity while in the extruded products MS, the R- Biopharm kit had higher sensitivity than the Veratox-Neogen one. In the commercial samples only the snack declaring “Contains milk derivatives” showed detectable values of milk proteins. Even though all the remaining products included precautionary phrases on the label, none of them exceeded the quantification limit. The detection and quantification of the allergen will depend on the utilized kit and the treatment to which the ingredients have been submitted. Therefore, the performance of every kit should be studied for every allergen and every particular food matrix. Regarding commercial products, the analysis of more samples coming from different batches would be necessary in order to corroborate these results and verify the correct use of precautionary phrases.Fil: Binaghi, Maria Julieta. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Sanidad Nutrición Bromatología y Toxicología; ArgentinaFil: Greco, Carola Beatriz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Sanidad Nutrición Bromatología y Toxicología; ArgentinaFil: Martín, María Eugenia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Sanidad Nutrición Bromatología y Toxicología; ArgentinaFil: Drago, Silvina Rosa. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química. Instituto de Tecnología de los Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Ronayne de Ferrer, Patricia Ana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Sanidad Nutrición Bromatología y Toxicología; ArgentinaFil: Lopez, Laura Beatriz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Sanidad Nutrición Bromatología y Toxicología; Argentin