A recent gibbon ape leukemia virus germline integration in a rodent from New Guinea

Germline colonization by retroviruses results in the formation of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). Most colonization’s occurred millions of years ago. However, in the Australo-Papuan region (Australia and New Guinea), several recent germline colonization events have been discovered . The Wallace Line separates much of Southeast Asia from the Australo-Papuan region restricting faunal and pathogen dispersion. West of the Wallace Line, gibbon ape leukemia viruses (GALVs) have been isolated from captive gibbons. Two microbat species from China appear to have been infected naturally. East of Wallace’s Line, the woolly monkey virus (a GALV) and the closely related koala retrovirus (KoRV) have been detected in eutherians and marsupials in the Australo-Papuan region, often vertically transmitted. The detected vertically transmitted GALV-like viruses in Australo-Papuan fauna compared to sporadic horizontal transmission in Southeast Asia and China suggest the GALV-KoRV clade originates in the former region and further models of early-stage genome colonization may be found. We screened 278 samples, seven bat and one rodent family endemic to the Australo-Papuan region and bat and rodent species found on both sides of the Wallace Line. We identified two rodents ( Melomys ) from Australia and Papua New Guinea and no bat species harboring GALV-like retroviruses. Melomys leucogaster from New Guinea harbored a genomically complete replication-competent retrovirus with a shared integration site among individuals. The integration was only present in some individuals of the species indicating this retrovirus is at the earliest stages of germline colonization of the Melomys genome, providing a new small wild mammal model of early-stage genome colonization

Mögen Sie es schmutzig? Reaction of Carcinus maenas to short-term pollution

Pollution of the oceans by anthropogenic influences is a serious problem that will continue to progress in the coming years. The aim of this study was to investigate whether harbour water, which is presumably affected by increased ship traffic or water mixed with sunscreen has an influence on the hiding and feeding behaviour of Carcinus maenas. The crab is frequently found in the shallow water zones of the Wadden Sea and is therefore used as a model organism. The results of our short-term study showed no significant response of the crabs to the pollution used. However, in order to be able to make a clear statement, the sample size must be significantly increased in future experiments.Die Verschmutzung der Meere durch anthropogene Einflüsse ist ein schwerwiegendes Problem, welches in den kommenden Jahren noch weiter fortschreiten wird. In dieser Studie sollte untersucht werden, ob Hafenwasser, welches vermutlich durch das erhöhte Schiffsaufkommen beeinträchtigt ist oder mit Sonnencreme versetztes Wasser einen Einfluss auf das Versteck- und Fressverhalten von Carcinus maenas hat. Die Strandkrabbe kommt unter anderem häufig in den Flachwasserzonen des Wattenmeeres vor und wird daher als Modellorganismus verwendet. Die Ergebnisse unserer Kurzzeitstudie zeigen keine signifikanten Verhaltensänderungen der Krabben auf die verwendeten Verschmutzungen. Um jedoch eine eindeutige Aussage treffen zu können, muss die Stichprobengröße in zukünftigen Versuchen deutlich erhöht werden.Peer Reviewe