The evolution of signal form: Effects of learned versus inherited recognition

Organisms can learn by individual experience to recognize relevant stimuli in the environment or they can genetically inherit this ability from their parents. Here, we ask how these two modes of acquisition affect signal evolution, focusing in particular on the exaggeration and cost of signals. We argue first, that faster learning by individual receivers cannot be a driving force for the evolution of exaggerated and costly signals unless signal senders are related or the same receiver and sender meet repeatedly. We argue instead that biases in receivers’ recognition mechanisms can promote the evolution of costly exaggeration in signals. We provide support for this hypothesis by simulating coevolution between senders and receivers, using artificial neural networks as a model of receivers’ recognition mechanisms. We analyse the joint effects of receiver biases, signal cost and mode of acquisition, investigating the circumstances under which learned recognition gives rise to more exaggerated signals than inherited recognition. We conclude the paper by discussing the relevance of our results to a number of biological scenarios

Structural insights into the HBV receptor and bile acid transporter NTCP

B型肝炎ウイルスの受容体“胆汁酸輸送体”の立体構造を解明. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-05-18.Roughly 250 million people are infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) worldwide, and perhaps 15 million also carry the satellite virus HDV, which confers even greater risk of severe liver disease. Almost ten years ago the HBV receptor was identified as NTCP (sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide), which interacts directly with the first 48 amino acid residues of the N-myristoylated N-terminal preS1 domain of the viral large (L) protein. Despite the pressing need for therapeutic agents to counter HBV, the structure of NTCP remains unsolved. This 349-residue protein is closely related to human apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT), another member of the solute carrier family SLC10. Crystal structures have been reported of similar bile acid transporters from bacteria, and these models with ten transmembrane helices are believed to resemble strongly both NTCP and ASBT. Using cryo-electron microscopy we have solved the structure of NTCP bound to an antibody, clearly showing the transporter has no equivalent to the first transmembrane helix of other SLC10 models, leaving the N-terminus exposed on the extracellular face. Comparison of the different structures indicates a common mechanism of bile acid transport, but the NTCP structure also displays a pocket formed by residues known to interact with preS1, presenting new and enticing opportunities for structure-based drug design

Serological Surveillance Development for Tropical Infectious Diseases Using Simultaneous Microsphere-Based Multiplex Assays and Finite Mixture Models

Background:A strategy to combat infectious diseases, including neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), will depend on the development of reliable epidemiological surveillance methods. To establish a simple and practical seroprevalence detection system, we developed a microsphere-based multiplex immunoassay system and evaluated utility using samples obtained in Kenya.Methods:We developed a microsphere-based immuno-assay system to simultaneously measure the individual levels of plasma antibody (IgG) against 8 antigens derived from 6 pathogens: Entamoeba histolytica (C-IgL), Leishmania donovani (KRP42), Toxoplasma gondii (SAG1), Wuchereria bancrofti (SXP1), HIV (gag, gp120 and gp41), and Vibrio cholerae (cholera toxin). The assay system was validated using appropriate control samples. The assay system was applied for 3411 blood samples collected from the general population randomly selected from two health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) cohorts in the coastal and western regions of Kenya. The immunoassay values distribution for each antigen was mathematically defined by a finite mixture model, and cut-off values were optimized.Findings:Sensitivities and specificities for each antigen ranged between 71 and 100%. Seroprevalences for each pathogen from the Kwale and Mbita HDSS sites (respectively) were as follows: HIV, 3.0% and 20.1%; L. donovani, 12.6% and 17.3%; E. histolytica, 12.8% and 16.6%; and T. gondii, 30.9% and 28.2%. Seroprevalences of W. bancrofti and V. cholerae showed relatively high figures, especially among children. The results might be affected by immunological cross reactions between W. bancrofti-SXP1 and other parasitic infections; and cholera toxin and the enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), respectively.Interpretation:A microsphere-based multi-serological assay system can provide an opportunity to comprehensively grasp epidemiological features for NTDs. By adding pathogens and antigens of interest, optimized made-to-order high-quality programs can be established to utilize limited resources to effectively control NTDs in Africa

Evolution of preference for consonances as a by-product

ABSTRACT Recent theoretical studies of evolution of visual signals in animals have revealed that biased preferences for symmetric patterns or simple coloration can evolve in the absence of positive fitness effects. In this paper, we study the evolution of biased preference for auditory signals. In music theory, intervals between a pair of auditory signals are classified into consonances and dissonances. Consonances are more comfortable to listen to than dissonances, and often have a frequency ratio close to a ratio of small integers. By examining the preferences shown by a three-layered network as a simplified model of an auditory system, we assess why we find consonances comfortable and dissonances uncomfortable. When the network was trained to accept monotones accompanied by harmonic tones and to reject random signals (noises), it developed a preference for consonances rather than dissonances. This suggests that the preference for consonances may have evolved as a by-product of training for a simple task, such as distinguishing mother's voices from noises, rather than as a result of being taught one-by-one. When the network was trained to favour a consonance and to reject a dissonance, it did not generalize the preference to other consonances or dissonances

ニューラルネットワークを用いての進化生物学における多変数入力応答の研究

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Exploring the Active Site Structure of a Photoreceptor Protein by Raman Optical Activity

We have developed a near-infrared excited Raman optical activity (ROA) spectrometer and report the first measurement of near-infrared ROA spectra of a light-driven proton pump, bacteriorhodopsin. Our results demonstrate that a near-infrared excitation enables us to measure the ROA spectra of the chromophore within a protein environment. Furthermore, the ROA spectra of the <i>all</i>-<i>trans</i>, 15-<i>anti</i> and 13-<i>cis</i>, 15-<i>syn</i> isomers differ significantly, indicating a high structural sensitivity of the ROA spectra. We therefore expect that future applications of the near-infrared ROA will allow the experimental elucidation of the active site structures in other proteins as well as reaction intermediates

Model construction for estimating potential vulnerability of Japanese soils to cadmium pollution based on intact soil properties.

Prediction of heavy metal bioavailability in intact soil is important to manage soil pollution risks. We developed a regression model for representative Japanese soils to judge their potential vulnerability to cadmium (Cd) pollution. We added four rates of Cd to 17 sample soils to mimic artificial contamination. After aging the contaminated soils, we measured Cd's bioavailability using the diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) technique. We then evaluated the relationships between bioavailability of Cd ([CdDGT]) and intact soil properties by statistical analyses. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) and pH emerged as significant factors to explain the cadmium bioavailability in Japanese soils. Specifically, lower CEC and lower pH were associated with higher [CdDGT], which poses a higher risk for soil ecosystems. The correlation between pH and [CdDGT] had a high dependence on [CdAdd], whereas that for CEC did not. Regression analysis also showed that the interaction between intact soil pH and spiked concentration ([CdAdd]) had a significant contribution to [CdDGT]. The regression model developed was rationally supported by a biotic ligand model. This simplified but realistic model would be useful in estimating the vulnerability of representative Japanese soils and determining the risk for Japanese soils in relation to Cd contamination