Ferrets exclusively synthesize Neu5Ac and express naturally humanized influenza A virus receptors

Mammals express the sialic acids ​N-acetylneuraminic acid (​Neu5Ac) and ​N-glycolylneuraminic acid (​Neu5Gc) on cell surfaces, where they act as receptors for pathogens, including influenza A virus (IAV). ​Neu5Gc is synthesized from ​Neu5Ac by the enzyme cytidine monophosphate-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH). In humans, this enzyme is inactive and only ​Neu5Ac is produced. Ferrets are susceptible to human-adapted IAV strains and have been the dominant animal model for IAV studies. Here we show that ferrets, like humans, do not synthesize ​Neu5Gc. Genomic analysis reveals an ancient, nine-exon deletion in the ferret CMAH gene that is shared by the Pinnipedia and Musteloidia members of the Carnivora. Interactions between two human strains of IAV with the sialyllactose receptor (sialic acid—α2,6Gal) confirm that the type of terminal sialic acid contributes significantly to IAV receptor specificity. Our results indicate that exclusive expression of ​Neu5Ac contributes to the susceptibility of ferrets to human-adapted IAV strains

Production of α-L-iduronidase in maize for the potential treatment of a human lysosomal storage disease

Lysosomal storage diseases are a class of over 70 rare genetic diseases that are amenable to enzyme replacement therapy. Towards developing a plant-based enzyme replacement therapeutic for the lysosomal storage disease mucopolysaccharidosis I, here we expressed α-L-iduronidase in the endosperm of maize seeds by a previously uncharacterized mRNA-targeting-based mechanism. Immunolocalization, cellular fractionation and in situ RT-PCR demonstrate that the α-L-iduronidase protein and mRNA are targeted to endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-derived protein bodies and to protein body-ER regions, respectively, using regulatory (5′-and 3′-UTR) and signal-peptide coding sequences from the γ-zein gene. The maize α-L-iduronidase exhibits high activity, contains high-mannose N-glycans and is amenable to in vitro phosphorylation. This mRNA-based strategy is of widespread importance as plant N-glycan maturation is controlled and the therapeutic protein is generated in a native form. For our target enzyme, the N-glycan structures are appropriate for downstream processing, a prerequisite for its potential as a therapeutic protein.9 page(s

Simulation and Evaluation of Solar Thermal Combi Systems with Direct Integration of Solar Heat into the Space Heating Loop

Usually, solar heat in combi systems is used via a buffer storage. In contrast to that, the solar collectors may be connected directly to the space heating circuit in order to store the heat in the building itself. Such a direct solar integration is investigated within system simulations for different layouts and heating elements. The simulations show significant reductions in the final energy demand as well as an increasing solar yield due to less thermal losses of the storage tank compared to the usual solution with one buffer storage. A prototype of one of the investigated heating concepts within a single family house proofs the functionality of the system concept and the high solar yield, particularly at low radiation levels. Since only a few manufacturers provide such system solutions with a direct solar integration, the results may have an important impact on the future development of combi systems

Individual fastq files

Individual fastq files to accompany “Genetic evidence for species cohesion, substructure, and hybrids in spruce" are available through the University of Wyoming DataCorral repository at doi:10.15786/faym-nh07 <https://doi.org/10.15786/FAYM-NH07

R script used for Bayesian Linear Mixed Models

This R script is used together with the source code bayesLMM.R

Data from: Genetic evidence for species cohesion, substructure, and hybrids in spruce

The origin and history of species are shaped by various evolutionary dynamics, including their persistence in the face of potential gene flow from related taxa. In this study we use broad geographic and taxonomic sampling (2,219 individuals) to establish the distribution of species, hybrids, and cryptic genetic variation within the conifer genus Picea (spruce) across western North America. We demonstrate that the six species of spruce in this region are distinguishable based on their genetic composition, and that the more closely related Engelmann spruce (P. engelmannii) and white spruce (P. glauca) have generated numerous and widespread hybrids. These hybrids occur in the central Rocky Mountains, well to the south of the well-established region of admixture in Canada. Additionally, we provide evidence for subdivision within Engelmann spruce, manifested as a southern Rocky Mountains form, and a northern Rocky Mountain and Cascade mountains (western) form. In the intervening central Rocky Mountains region (forests in Wyoming and adjacent states) we found primarily individuals with admixed ancestry. Following their origin, these species of spruce have interacted repeatedly and in different geographic contexts. Multiple pairs of species have been shown to hybridize, yet the species persist and retain distinguishable compositions. At the same time, large geographic areas exist where hybrids are pervasive. Consequently, spruce provide a case study for the maintenance of species boundaries, particularly for how widespread hybridization need not lead to the collapse and loss of species

variants_EngWhiHyb_fileA.vcf

The complete .vcf file need to be concatenated including the files: variants_EngWhiHyb_fileA.vcf.gz and variants_EngWhiHyb_fileB.vcf.gz. Concatenate the files and extract as follows: $cat variants_EngWhiHyb_file*.vcf.gz > variants_EngWhiHyb_file.vcf.gz$ gunzip variants_EngWhiHyb_file.vcf.g