„Tu esi vaikinas arba mergina – kito pasirinkimo nėra“. Biologinės lyties sampratos biologijos vadovėliuose analizė

Today’s scientific discourse is increasingly criticizing the strict binary concept of biological sex. While science is progressively revealing the complexity of biological sex, the knowledge of biology for many is limited to what is acquired at school. Nonheteronormative, sex-wise atypical people still face isolation, misunderstanding and resulting social and psychological difficulties at school and in society in general. To explore the concept of biological sex presented in biology textbooks, qualitative content analysis was used. The analysis focused on the stages of sex development, the characteristics defining biological sex, the concept of sex being discrete or continuous trait, and the representation of differences in sex development. It was found that the information provided was inconsistent and superficial, failing to reflect the complexity of the sex development process. Biological sex was presented as an unambiguously discrete and binary trait, with no mention of differences in sex development. A poor understanding of biological sex does not encourage critical discussion about human biodiversity. It reproduces heteronormative norms, that condition discrimination and bullying.Šiandienos moksliniame diskurse vis dažniau pasigirsta kritika griežtai binariškai biologinės lyties sampratai. Nors moksle vis plačiau atskleidžiamas biologinės lyties kompleksiškumas – visuomenėje daugelio biologijos išmanymas apsiriboja mokykloje įgytomis žiniomis. Neheteronormatyvūs, lyties prasme netipiniai asmenys mokykloje ir apskritai visuomenėje vis dar susiduria su atskirtimi, nesupratimu ir iš to kylančiais socialiniais ir psichologiniais sunkumais. Pasitelkiant kokybinę turinio analizę buvo tirti biologijos dalyko vadovėliai, siekta suprasti, kokia biologinės lyties samprata juose perteikiama. Buvo vertinama informacija apie lyties vystymosi etapus, lytį aprašančius požymius, analizuojami lyties kaip diskretaus ar tolygiai kintančio požymio samprata ir lyties vystymosi skirtumų pavaizdavimas. Nustatyta, kad informacija apie lyties vystymąsi pateikiama nenuosekliai ir paviršutiniškai, neatskleidžiant šio proceso kompleksiškumo. Lytis perteikiama kaip vienareikšmiškai diskretus, binarinis požymis, nepavaizduojami lyties vystymosi skirtumai. Skurdi biologinės lyties samprata nekuria terpės kritinei diskusijai apie žmogaus biologinę įvairovę. Tai lemia heteronormatyvių lyties normų, kurios skatina diskriminaciją ir patyčias, reprodukavimą

„You are either a boy or a girl – there is no other choice.“ Analysis of the Biological Sex Concept in Biology Textbooks

Today’s scientific discourse is increasingly criticizing the strict binary concept of biological sex. While science is progressively revealing the complexity of biological sex, the knowledge of biology for many is limited to what is acquired at school. Nonheteronormative, sex-wise atypical people still face isolation, misunderstanding and resulting social and psychological difficulties at school and in society in general. To explore the concept of biological sex presented in biology textbooks, qualitative content analysis was used. The analysis focused on the stages of sex development, the characteristics defining biological sex, the concept of sex being discrete or continuous trait, and the representation of differences in sex development. It was found that the information provided was inconsistent and superficial, failing to reflect the complexity of the sex development process. Biological sex was presented as an unambiguously discrete and binary trait, with no mention of differences in sex development. A poor understanding of biological sex does not encourage critical discussion about human biodiversity. It reproduces heteronormative norms, that condition discrimination and bullying

Emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.620 with variant of concern-like mutations and deletions.

Distinct SARS-CoV-2 lineages, discovered through various genomic surveillance initiatives, have emerged during the pandemic following unprecedented reductions in worldwide human mobility. We here describe a SARS-CoV-2 lineage - designated B.1.620 - discovered in Lithuania and carrying many mutations and deletions in the spike protein shared with widespread variants of concern (VOCs), including E484K, S477N and deletions HV69Δ, Y144Δ, and LLA241/243Δ. As well as documenting the suite of mutations this lineage carries, we also describe its potential to be resistant to neutralising antibodies, accompanying travel histories for a subset of European cases, evidence of local B.1.620 transmission in Europe with a focus on Lithuania, and significance of its prevalence in Central Africa owing to recent genome sequencing efforts there. We make a case for its likely Central African origin using advanced phylogeographic inference methodologies incorporating recorded travel histories of infected travellers

Search, identification and analysis of polyomavirus genome sequences in rodent samples from europe

Search, Identification and Analysis of Polyomavirus Genome Sequences in Rodent Samples From Europe Polyomaviruses (PyVs) are ~ 5 kb double-stranded DNA viruses that infect mammals, birds, and fish. Recently, pathogenesis and evolution of PyVs are extensively studied. Rodents, the largest group of mammals, have been relatively little investigated for PyVs, making them a good target for searching for new polyomaviruses. Rodents and their PyVs are a suitable model for the analysis of PyV host-virus coevolution. In this study, PyV-specific hexanucleotide primers were developed for the strand displacement amplification reaction. However, novel primers did not amplify PyV DNA significantly more efficiently and did not significantly increase the ratio of PyV DNA to mitochondrial DNA in samples compared to random primers using Phi29 and EquiPhi29 polymerases for amplification. The rodent samples of genera Microtus, Apodemus, and Rattus were examined for polyomaviruses. One Microtus arvalis vole had a PyV sequence, 99% identical to CVPyV. A new polyomavirus, MarPyV2, was identified in 14 Microtus arvalis voles and had a genomic sequence identity of 73% to MPtV and 62% to CVPyV. Co-evolution with the host and loss were the most important events for the inter-population diversity of this virus. AflaPyV1 DNA was detected in one Apodemus flavicollis mouse, and no PyV DNA was detected in Apodemus agrarius mice. In Rattus rattus rats, a new PyV with 92% genomic sequence identity to RnorPyV1 and a variant of RnorPyV1 with a 1226 bp deletion spanning the NCCR and adjacent sequences were identified. The synthesis of RnorPyV1 VP1 protein in yeast cells resulted in a yield of 0.389 mg per 1 g of wet yeast biomass, and the protein formed virus-like particles of 43 ± 5.3 nm in size. RatPyV2 VP1 protein synthesis was not noticeable in yeast cells

Hamster polyomavirus research: past, present, and future

Hamster polyomavirus (Mesocricetus auratus polyomavirus 1, HaPyV) was discovered as one of the first rodent polyomaviruses at the end of the 1960s in a colony of Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) affected by skin tumors. Natural HaPyV infections have been recorded in Syrian hamster colonies due to the occurrence of skin tumors and lymphomas. HaPyV infections of Syrian hamsters represent an important and pioneering tumor model. Experimental infections of Syrian hamsters of different colonies are still serving as model systems (e.g., mesothelioma). The observed phylogenetic relationship of HaPyV to murine polyomaviruses within the genus Alphapolyomavirus, and the exclusive detection of other cricetid polyomaviruses, i.e., common vole (Microtus arvalis polyomavirus 1) and bank vole (Myodes glareolus polyomavirus 1) polyomaviruses, in the genus Betapolyomavirus, must be considered with caution, as knowledge of rodent-associated polyomaviruses is still limited. The genome of HaPyV shows the typical organization of polyomaviruses with an early and a late transcriptional region. The early region encodes three tumor (T) antigens including a middle T antigen; the late region encodes three capsid proteins. The major capsid protein VP1 of HaPyV was established as a carrier for the generation of autologous, chimeric, and mosaic virus-like particles (VLPs) with a broad range of applications, e.g., for the production of epitope-specific antibodies. Autologous VLPs have been applied for entry and maturation studies of dendritic cells. The generation of chimeric and mosaic VLPs indicated the high flexibility of the VP1 carrier protein for the insertion of foreign sequences. The generation of pseudotype VLPs of original VP1 and VP2-foreign protein fusion can further enhance the applicability of this system. Future investigations should evaluate the evolutionary origin of HaPyV, monitor its occurrence in wildlife and Syrian hamster breeding, and prove its value for the generation of potential vaccine candidates and as a gene therapy vehicle

Immunogenic properties and antigenic similarity of virus-like particles derived from human polyomaviruses /

Polyomaviruses (PyVs) are highly prevalent in humans and animals. PyVs cause mild illness, however, they can also elicit severe diseases. Some PyVs are potentially zoonotic, such as simian virus 40 (SV40). However, data are still lacking about their biology, infectivity, and host interaction with different PyVs. We investigated the immunogenic properties of virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from viral protein 1 (VP1) of human PyVs. We immunised mice with recombinant HPyV VP1 VLPs mimicking the structure of viruses and compared their immunogenicity and cross-reactivity of antisera using a broad spectrum of VP1 VLPs derived from the PyVs of humans and animals. We demonstrated a strong immunogenicity of studied VLPs and a high degree of antigenic similarity between VP1 VLPs of different PyVs. PyV-specific monoclonal antibodies were generated and applied for investigation of VLPs phagocytosis. This study demonstrated that HPyV VLPs are highly immunogenic and interact with phagocytes. Data on the cross-reactivity of VP1 VLP-specific antisera revealed antigenic similarities among VP1 VLPs of particular human and animal PyVs and suggested possible cross-immunity. As the VP1 capsid protein is the major viral antigen involved in virus-host interaction, an approach based on the use of recombinant VLPs is relevant for studying PyV biology regarding PyV interaction with the host immune system

Emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.620 with variant of concern-like mutations and deletions

Distinct SARS-CoV-2 lineages, discovered through various genomic surveillance initiatives, have emerged during the pandemic following unprecedented reductions in worldwide human mobility. We here describe a SARS-CoV-2 lineage - designated B.1.620 - discovered in Lithuania and carrying many mutations and deletions in the spike protein shared with widespread variants of concern (VOCs), including E484K, S477N and deletions HV69Δ, Y144Δ, and LLA241/243Δ. As well as documenting the suite of mutations this lineage carries, we also describe its potential to be resistant to neutralising antibodies, accompanying travel histories for a subset of European cases, evidence of local B.1.620 transmission in Europe with a focus on Lithuania, and significance of its prevalence in Central Africa owing to recent genome sequencing efforts there. We make a case for its likely Central African origin using advanced phylogeographic inference methodologies incorporating recorded travel histories of infected travellers