Predicting Incubation Period: A Case Study of the North Island Brown Kiwi (\u3cem\u3eApteryx Australis Mantelli\u3c/em\u3e) and the Elephant Bird (\u3cem\u3eAepyornis\u3c/em\u3e SPP)

Poster presentation abstract

Isolation and Characterization of Novel Mycobacteriophages From the Central Illinois Region

Members of the Illinois Wesleyan General Biology Science Education Alliance (SEA) laboratory isolated and characterized fifteen distinctive phages capable of infecting Mycobacterium smegmatis. Each student collected soil samples from the central Illinois area and used direct plating or enrichment techniques to isolate phages. Streak assays were used to purify single phage populations. Individual phage populations were then characterized and DNA was isolated. Based on the following characteristics; plaque morphology (size and turbidity), life style (temperate or lytic) and DNA restriction patterns, we determined that each student has isolated a unique phage. The DNA from a single Mycobacteriophage, Kazan, was sent to the University of Pittsburgh for genome sequencing. DNA Sequencing determined that Kazan is 52,160 base pairs, including 10 base pair 3\u27 overhang (CGGTCGGTTA), and a member of the A6 subcluster of Mycobacteriophages. Kazan is most closely related to the phages EricB and DaVinci (99% identity). Genome analysis, using the computer programs DNA Master, Glimmer, GeneMark, and Aragorn, determined that the Kazan genome housed 99 genes and 3 tRNAs. The potential protein function for each gene was determined using the computer programs HHPred, BLASTP and Phamerator. All the individual phage data was submitted to the Mycobacteriophage DataBase and the genome annotation, when completed, will be submitted to the DNA database, GenBank

SYT1-associated neurodevelopmental disorder: a case series.

Synaptotagmin 1 (SYT1) is a critical mediator of fast, synchronous, calcium-dependent neurotransmitter release and also modulates synaptic vesicle endocytosis. This paper describes 11 patients with de novo heterozygous missense mutations in SYT1. All mutations alter highly conserved residues, and cluster in two regions of the SYT1 C2B domain at positions Met303 (M303K), Asp304 (D304G), Asp366 (D366E), Ile368 (I368T) and Asn371 (N371K). Phenotypic features include infantile hypotonia, congenital ophthalmic abnormalities, childhood-onset hyperkinetic movement disorders, motor stereotypies, and developmental delay varying in severity from moderate to profound. Behavioural characteristics include sleep disturbance and episodic agitation. Absence of epileptic seizures and normal orbitofrontal head circumference are important negative features. Structural MRI is unremarkable but EEG disturbance is universal, characterized by intermittent low frequency high amplitude oscillations. The functional impact of these five de novo SYT1 mutations has been assessed by expressing rat SYT1 protein containing the equivalent human variants in wild-type mouse primary hippocampal cultures. All mutant forms of SYT1 were expressed at levels approximately equal to endogenous wild-type protein, and correctly localized to nerve terminals at rest, except for SYT1M303K, which was expressed at a lower level and failed to localize at nerve terminals. Following stimulation, SYT1I368T and SYT1N371K relocalized to nerve terminals at least as efficiently as wild-type SYT1. However, SYT1D304G and SYT1D366E failed to relocalize to nerve terminals following stimulation, indicative of impairments in endocytic retrieval and trafficking of SYT1. In addition, the presence of SYT1 variants at nerve terminals induced a slowing of exocytic rate following sustained action potential stimulation. The extent of disturbance to synaptic vesicle kinetics is mirrored by the severity of the affected individuals' phenotypes, suggesting that the efficiency of SYT1-mediated neurotransmitter release is critical to cognitive development. In summary, de novo dominant SYT1 missense mutations are associated with a recognizable neurodevelopmental syndrome, and further cases can now be diagnosed based on clinical features, electrophysiological signature and mutation characteristics. Variation in phenotype severity may reflect mutation-specific impact on the diverse physiological functions of SYT1

Global phylogeography and ancient evolution of the widespread human gut virus crAssphage

Microbiomes are vast communities of microorganisms and viruses that populate all natural ecosystems. Viruses have been considered to be the most variable component of microbiomes, as supported by virome surveys and examples of high genomic mosaicism. However, recent evidence suggests that the human gut virome is remarkably stable compared with that of other environments. Here, we investigate the origin, evolution and epidemiology of crAssphage, a widespread human gut virus. Through a global collaboration, we obtained DNA sequences of crAssphage from more than one-third of the world's countries and showed that the phylogeography of crAssphage is locally clustered within countries, cities and individuals. We also found fully colinear crAssphage-like genomes in both Old-World and New-World primates, suggesting that the association of crAssphage with primates may be millions of years old. Finally, by exploiting a large cohort of more than 1,000 individuals, we tested whether crAssphage is associated with bacterial taxonomic groups of the gut microbiome, diverse human health parameters and a wide range of dietary factors. We identified strong correlations with different clades of bacteria that are related to Bacteroidetes and weak associations with several diet categories, but no significant association with health or disease. We conclude that crAssphage is a benign cosmopolitan virus that may have coevolved with the human lineage and is an integral part of the normal human gut virome

Global phylogeography and ancient evolution of the widespread human gut virus crAssphage

Microbiomes are vast communities of microorganisms and viruses that populate all natural ecosystems. Viruses have been considered to be the most variable component of microbiomes, as supported by virome surveys and examples of high genomic mosaicism. However, recent evidence suggests that the human gut virome is remarkably stable compared with that of other environments. Here, we investigate the origin, evolution and epidemiology of crAssphage, a widespread human gut virus. Through a global collaboration, we obtained DNA sequences of crAssphage from more than one-third of the world’s countries and showed that the phylogeography of crAssphage is locally clustered within countries, cities and individuals. We also found fully colinear crAssphage-like genomes in both Old-World and New-World primates, suggesting that the association of crAssphage with primates may be millions of years old. Finally, by exploiting a large cohort of more than 1,000 individuals, we tested whether crAssphage is associated with bacterial taxonomic groups of the gut microbiome, diverse human health parameters and a wide range of dietary factors. We identified strong correlations with different clades of bacteria that are related to Bacteroidetes and weak associations with several diet categories, but no significant association with health or disease. We conclude that crAssphage is a benign cosmopolitan virus that may have coevolved with the human lineage and is an integral part of the normal human gut virome

Disparities in police proceedings and court sentencing for females versus males who commit sexual offences in New Zealand

This study investigated whether there are disparities in the way in which police proceed against females and males who commit sexual offences. We explored whether there are discrepancies in the severity of court sentences handed down to female and male sexual offenders. Using police and sentencing data, we compared the proportion of females and males who proceeded to court action once charged with a sexual offence and, separately, the severity of sentencing handed down to both genders. In terms of police decision-making processes, compared to males, a smaller proportion of females proceeded to “court action” for their offences. Furthermore, the severity of sentences handed down to males was greater than those handed down to females, both generally and when the sexual offence could be directly matched. These findings are discussed in the context of gender differences in how these crimes are processed and implications for justice, intervention, and community safety

A Comparative Study of Eggshell Pore Morphology of Palaeognath Birds

Avian eggshell pores, which allow gas exchange to and from the embryo, vary in size and structure (e.g., diameter, branching pattern, shape, abundance, and dispersion) among species. Previous studies have indicated that eggshell microstructures can contribute to the development of evolutionary hypotheses (phylogenies) of avian taxa. We are focusing on the Palaeognath taxon, which includes the extinct flightless Ratites (Elephant Birds and Moas), the extant flightless Ratites (i.e., Ostriches, Emus, Rheas, Kiwis, Cassowaries), and the extant flighted Tinamous. The purpose of our study is to evaluate whether eggshell pore morphologies are phylogenetically informative characters for Palaeognath birds. We are using a polyurethane-based resin to make three-dimensional corrosion casts of eggshell pore spaces. Preliminary data from the casts of Elephant Bird pore spaces indicate that in one third of the observed fragments, bifurcated branching exists in the palisade layer (the region closest to the external surface). Unbranched pores were cylindrical based on a comparison of pore diameters in the upper, middle, and lower regions