ORCID Profile
0000-0002-1318-0018
Current Organisation
University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2020
Publisher: ASTM International
Date: 2005
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2004411
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 10-2019
Abstract: We experimentally tested the costs of deep torpor at low temperatures by comparing telomere dynamics in two species of rodents hibernating at either 3 or 14°C. Our data show that hibernators kept at the warmer temperature had higher arousal frequencies, but maintained longer telomeres than in iduals hibernating at the colder temperature. We suggest that the high-energy demand of frequent arousals is counteracted by a lower temperature differential between torpid and euthermic body temperature and that telomere length is restored during arousals when the body temperature is returned to normothermic values. Taken together, our study shows that hibernation at low body temperatures comes with costs on a cellular level and that hibernators need to actively counterbalance the shortening of telomeres.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 25-10-2017
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-017-13631-6
Abstract: Organisms develop local adaptations to cope with spatially and temporally variable environments such as estuarine habitats, where abiotic parameters such as salinity and temperature fluctuate continuously. Studying the regulation of gene expression in a variable environment allows us to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of these adaptations and the relative roles of the genetic and plastic response. The transcriptomes of the European native Palaemon longirostris (PL) and the introduced P. macrodactylus (PM) shrimps are described and compared after an experiment simulating summer conditions in the Guadalquivir Estuary, Spain. Specimens, collected in the Guadalquivir Estuary, were maintained at a temperature and salinity of 20 °C and 5 ppt for the control, and 30 °C and 15 ppt for the stress treatment. A large amount of differential gene expression was observed: 16,013 and 2,594 for PL and PM respectively. Functionally annotated unigenes revealed some differences, with PL seemingly having to face stronger physiological stress than PM. Thus, PM seems to have greater resistance than PL under conditions of high temperature and salinity. These results constitute a step forward in the understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of genetic adaptation of native invertebrates, and alien taxa that have successfully invaded estuaries in temperate regions around the world.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-03-2011
DOI: 10.1038/HDY.2011.14
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-08-2021
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-021-95357-0
Abstract: Brown hares ( Lepus europaeus Pallas) are able to hybridize with mountain hares ( L. timidus Linnaeus) and produce fertile offspring, which results in cross-species gene flow. However, not much is known about the functional significance of this genetic introgression. Using targeted sequencing of candidate loci combined with mtDNA genotyping, we found the ancestral genetic ersity in the Finnish brown hare to be small, likely due to founder effect and range expansion, while gene flow from mountain hares constitutes an important source of functional genetic variability. Some of this variability, such as the alleles of the mountain hare thermogenin (uncoupling protein 1, UCP1 ), might have adaptive advantage for brown hares, whereas immunity-related MHC alleles are reciprocally exchanged and maintained via balancing selection. Our study offers a rare ex le where an expanding species can increase its allelic variability through hybridization with a congeneric native species, offering a route to shortcut evolutionary adaptation to the local environmental conditions.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 19-06-2023
DOI: 10.3390/D15060790
Abstract: In wild boar, Sus scrofa, from Europe, domestic pig-typical ancestry is traced at varying levels. We hypothesised wild boar with pig-typical gene pool characteristics, i.e., “introgression”, congregate more in peri-urban habitats, because of less shyness and better adaptation to anthropogenic stress. We used 16 microsatellites to study introgression levels of 375 wild boar from peri-urban Vienna, Austria, and rural regions in comparison to commercial slaughter pigs, Mangaliza, and Turopolje pigs. We also expected more introgression in locations of warmer climates and lower precipitation. Despite discrimination of wild boar and pigs with 99.73% and 97.87% probability, respectively, all wild boars exhibited pig-typical gene pool characteristics, mostly at a very low level. Recent hybridisation was suspected in only 0.53% of wild boar, corresponding to the current largely indoor pig breeding/rearing in the region, with no chance of natural gene exchange between pigs and wild boar. Rather, pig ancestry in wild boar stems from incomplete gene pool differentiation during domestication and/or historical introgressions, when free-ranging pig farming was common. In idual introgression levels were lower in wild boar from peri-urban habitats, possibly reflecting the largely historical absence of pig farms there. Moreover, a marginal precipitation effect, but no temperature effect on introgression was observed. The latter, however, needs to be explored further by a more comprehensive data set.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-10-2021
DOI: 10.1111/MEC.16233
Abstract: Increasing evidence at the cellular level is helping to provide proximate explanations for the balance between investment in growth, reproduction and somatic maintenance in wild populations. Studies of telomere dynamics have informed researchers about the loss and gain of telomere length both on a seasonal scale and across the lifespan of in iduals. In addition, telomere length and telomere rate of loss seems to have evolved differently among taxonomic groups, and relate differently to organismal ersity of lifespan. So far, the mechanisms behind telomere maintenance remain elusive, although many studies have inferred a role for telomerase, an enzyme/RNA complex known to induce telomere elongation from laboratory studies. Exciting further work is also emerging that suggests telomerase (and/or its in idual component parts) has a role in fitness that goes beyond the maintenance of telomere length. Here, we review the literature on telomerase biology and examine the evidence from ecological studies for the timing and extent of telomerase activation in relation to life history events associated with telomere maintenance. We suggest that the underlying mechanism is more complicated than originally anticipated, possibly involves several complimentary pathways, and is probably associated with high energetic costs. Potential pathways for future research are numerous and we outline what we see as the most promising prospects to expand our understanding of in idual differences in immunity or reproduction efficiency.
Publisher: The Company of Biologists
Date: 15-08-2016
DOI: 10.1242/JEB.140871
Abstract: We studied the impact of hibernation and food supply on relative telomere length (RTL), an indicator for aging and somatic maintenance, in free-living edible dormice. Small hibernators such as dormice have ∼50% higher maximum longevity than non-hibernators. Increased longevity could theoretically be due to prolonged torpor directly slowing cellular damage and RTL shortening. However, although mitosis is arrested in mammals at low body temperatures, recent evidence points to accelerated RTL shortening during periodic re-warming (arousal) from torpor. Therefore, we hypothesized that these arousals during hibernation should have a negative effect on RTL. Here, we show that RTL was shortened in all animals over the course of ∼1 year, during which dormice hibernated for 7.5–11.4 months. The rate of periodic arousals, rather than the time spent euthermic during the hibernation season, was the best predictor of RTL shortening. This finding points to negative effects on RTL of the transition from low torpor to high euthermic body temperature and metabolic rate during arousals, possibly because of increased oxidative stress. The animals were, however, able to elongate their telomeres during the active season, when food availability was increased by supplemental feeding in a year of low natural food abundance. We conclude that in addition to their energetic costs, periodic arousals also lead to accelerated cellular damage in terms of RTL shortening. Although dormice are able to counteract and even over-compensate for the negative effects of hibernation, restoration of RTL appears to be energetically costly.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.MEEGID.2013.11.009
Abstract: Johne's disease, or paratuberculosis, is a chronic fatal ruminant gastroenteritis caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) whose foodborne zoonotic potential and association with Crohn's disease are still under debate. The disease is widespread but its epidemiology and epizootiology remains elusive. Wildlife is suspected to play a major role. After a surge in MAP seroprevalence in Austrian cattle, paratuberculosis was declared a notifiable disease in Austria in 2006. At the same time a rise in MAP cases in wild ruminant populations in the Austrian province of Styria was reported. All five autochthonous ruminants were affected. Genetic analysis of isolates, yielded numerous genotypes (>15) and several multiple strain infections (15%) across host species. Identical MIRU-VNTR profiles were identified in different species and s ling locations. On the other hand varying MIRU-VNTR profiles were revealed at the same location and in conspecifics. Our data, taken together with earlier epidemiological studies on MAP and other mycobacteria, raised concerns about the organisms' ecology. Constraints regarding in vitro culture of this highly fastidious organism potentially bias our current understanding of its epidemiology. We suggest that MAP infections could be polyclonal and question the informative value of genotyping a single MAP colony derived from a single specimen for epidemiological analysis of MAP.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 29-03-2021
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0248294
Abstract: With increasing livestock numbers, competition and avoidance are increasingly shaping resource availability for wild ungulates. Shifts in the dietary niche of wild ungulates are likely and can be expected to negatively affect their fitness. The Mongolian Gobi constitutes the largest remaining refuge for several threatened ungulates, but unprecedentedly high livestock numbers are sparking growing concerns over rangeland health and impacts on threatened ungulates like the Asiatic wild ass (khulan). Previous stable isotope analysis of khulan tail hair from the Dzungarian Gobi suggested that they graze in summer but switch to a poorer mixed C3 grass / C4 shrub diet in winter, most likely in reaction to local herders and their livestock. Here we attempt to validate these findings with a different methodology, DNA metabarcoding. Further, we extend the scope of the original study to the South Gobi Region, where we expect higher proportions of low-quality browse in the khulan winter diet due to a higher human and livestock presence. Barcoding confirmed the assumptions behind the seasonal diet change observed in the Dzungarian Gobi isotope data, and new isotope analysis revealed a strong seasonal pattern and higher C4 plant intake in the South Gobi Region, in line with our expectations. However, DNA barcoding revealed C4 domination of winter diet was due to C4 grasses (rather than shrubs) for the South Gobi Region. Slight climatic differences result in regional shifts in the occurrence of C3 and C4 grasses and shrubs, which do not allow for an isotopic separation along the grazer-browser continuum over the entire Gobi. Our findings do not allow us to confirm human impacts upon dietary preferences in khulan as we lack seasonal s les from the South Gobi Region. However, these data provide novel insight into khulan diet, raise new questions about plant availability versus preference, and provide a cautionary tale about indirect analysis methods if used in isolation or extrapolated to the landscape level. Good concordance between relative read abundance of C4 genera from barcoding and proportion of C4 plants from isotope analysis adds to a growing body of evidence that barcoding is a promising quantitative tool to understand resource partitioning in ungulates.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2003
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-03-2020
DOI: 10.1007/S11252-020-00957-9
Abstract: Leptospirosis is a worldwide bacterial zoonosis which incidence is expected to increase in conjunction with global change. In urban ecosystems, synanthropic rats are the key source of Leptospira infection in humans and other animals. Risk assessment and prediction of human leptospirosis require investigations of the environment associated with the bacteria and infection patterns in the reservoir hosts. The objective of this study was to address the prevalence of mixed Leptospira infection in the lungs and kidneys of brown rats captured in three sites of the city centre of Vienna, Austria, between 2016 and 2018. A total of 96 brown rats were examined for the presence of Leptospira using PCR. Occurrence of mixed Leptospira infections was explored through next-generation sequencing (NGS). A logistic regression model was built to predict the in idual infection status using morphological and land-use data. Overall, the prevalence of Leptospira interrogans in the kidney was 25% but varied among sites (0–36%). We did not evidence any pulmonary nor mixed infections. Host body mass and sex were strong predictors of Leptospira carriage in the s led rats (relative variable importance (RVI) = 0.98 and 0.89, respectively) while the presence of water affected it moderately (RVI = 0.44). Our findings demonstrate that NGS is an unbiased approach to the direct characterisation of mixed leptospiral infections that could provide further insights into the ecology of Leptospira . Future surveillance programmes should consider the use of rats as sentinels for the early detection of emerging pathogenic Leptospira in urban ecosystems.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-2018
Publisher: Museum and Institute of Zoology at the Polish Academy of Sciences
Date: 06-2016
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-06-2013
Abstract: Identifying genes of adaptive significance in a changing environment is a major focus of ecological genomics. Such efforts were restricted, until recently, to researchers studying a small group of model organisms or closely related taxa. With the advent of next generation sequencing (NGS), genomes and transcriptomes of virtually any species are now available for studies of adaptive evolution. We experimentally manipulated temperature conditions for two groups of crimson spotted rainbowfish ( Melanotaenia duboulayi ) and measured differences in RNA transcription between them. This non-migratory species is found across a latitudinal thermal gradient in eastern Australia and is predicted to be negatively impacted by ongoing environmental and climatic change. Using next generation RNA-seq technologies on an Illumina HiSeq2000 platform, we assembled a de novo transcriptome and tested for differential expression across the treatment groups. Quality of the assembly was high with a N50 length of 1856 bases. Of the 107,749 assembled contigs, we identified 4251 that were differentially expressed according to a consensus of four different mapping and significance testing approaches. Once duplicate isoforms were removed, we were able to annotate 614 up-regulated transfrags and 349 that showed reduced expression in the higher temperature group. Annotated blast matches reveal that differentially expressed genes correspond to critical metabolic pathways previously shown to be important for temperature tolerance in other fish species. Our results indicate that rainbowfish exhibit predictable plastic regulatory responses to temperature stress and the genes we identified provide excellent candidates for further investigations of population adaptation to increasing temperatures.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-05-2021
DOI: 10.2981/WLB.00809
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 03-01-2017
Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Date: 09-07-2020
Abstract: Adaptation to climate change is expected to be influenced by thermal conditions experienced by species during their evolutionary history. We studied plastic capacity as a target of climatic selection, hypothesizing that populations that evolved under warmer climates have greater plastic adaptive resilience to climate change. This was tested experimentally by comparing upper thermal tolerance and gene expression in fish populations from desert, temperate, and subtropical regions of Australia. Divergent adaptive plastic responses to future climates were found across different bioregions, including in key heat stress genes. The greatest adaptive resilience was shown by the subtropical ecotype, followed by the desert and temperate ecotypes. These results have implications for large-scale assessments of climate impacts and for predictions of species distribution changes.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2012
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-03-2003
DOI: 10.1046/J.1365-294X.2003.01807.X
Abstract: The amount of nuclear DNA extracted from teeth of 279 in idual red fox Vulpes vulpes collected over a period spanning the last three decades was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Although teeth were autoclaved during initial collection, 73.8% of extracts contained sufficient DNA concentration (> 5 pg/ micro L) suitable for reliable microsatellite genotyping but the quantity of nuclear DNA decayed significantly over time in a nonlinear pattern. The success of PCR lification across four examined canine microsatellites over time was dependent on fragment size. By including data from two different tests for human contamination and from frequencies of allelic dropout and false alleles, the methodological constraints of population genetic studies using microsatellite loci lified from historic DNA are discussed.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-06-2011
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.FSI.2015.06.009
Abstract: Genetic ersity is an essential aspect of species viability, and assessments of neutral genetic ersity are regularly implemented in captive breeding and conservation programs. Despite their importance, information from adaptive markers is rarely included in such programs. A promising marker of significance in fitness and adaptive potential is the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), a key component of the adaptive immune system. Populations of Australian freshwater fishes are generally declining in numbers due to human impacts and the introduction of exotic species, a scenario of particular concern for members of the family Percichthyidae, several of which are listed as nationally vulnerable or endangered, and hence subject to management plans, captive breeding, and restoration plans. We used a next-generation sequencing approach to characterize the MHC IIB locus and provide a conservative description of its levels of ersity in four endangered percichthyids: Gadopsis marmoratus, Macquaria australasica, Nannoperca australis, and Nannoperca obscura. Evidence is presented for a duplicated MHC IIB locus, positively selected sites and recombination of MHC alleles. Relatively moderate levels of ersity were detected in the four species, as well as in different ecotypes within each species. Phylogenetic analyses revealed genus specific clustering of alleles and no allele sharing among species. There were also no shared alleles observed between two ecotypes within G. marmoratus and within M. australasica, which might be indicative of ecologically-driven ergence and/or long ergence times. This represents the first characterization and assessment of MHC ersity for Percichthyidae, and also for Australian freshwater fishes in general, providing key genetic resources for a vertebrate group of increasing conservation concern.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-08-2010
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 07-11-2018
Abstract: The white rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum ) has a discontinuous African distribution, which is limited by the extent of sub-Saharan grasslands. The southern population (SWR) declined to its lowest number around the turn of the nineteenth century, but recovered to become the world's most numerous rhinoceros. In contrast, the northern population (NWR) was common during much of the twentieth century, declining rapidly since the 1970s, and now only two post-reproductive in iduals remain. Despite this species's conservation status, it lacks a genetic assessment of its demographic history. We therefore s led 232 in iduals from extant and museum sources and analysed ten microsatellite loci and the mtDNA control region. Both marker types reliably partitioned the species into SWR and NWR, with moderate nuclear genetic ersity and only three mtDNA haplotypes for the species, including historical s les. We detected ancient interglacial demographic declines in both populations. Both populations may also have been affected by recent declines associated with the colonial expansion for the SWR, and with the much earlier Bantu migrations for the NWR. Finally, we detected post- ergence secondary contact between NWR and SWR, possibly occurring as recently as the last glacial maximum. These results suggest the species was subjected to regular periods of fragmentation and low genetic ersity, which may have been replenished upon secondary contact during glacial periods. The species's current situation thus reflects prehistoric declines that were exacerbated by anthropogenic pressure associated with the rise of late Holocene technological advancement in Africa. Importantly, secondary contact suggests a potentially positive outcome for a hybrid rescue conservation strategy, although further genome-wide data are desirable to corroborate these results.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-02-2022
Abstract: Although early‐life adversity has been associated with negative consequences during adulthood, growing evidence shows that such adversity can also lead to subsequent stress resilience and positive fitness outcomes. Telomere dynamics are relevant in this context because of the link with developmental conditions and longevity. However, few studies have assessed whether the effects of early‐life adversity on developmental telomere dynamics may relate to adult telomere dynamics. We propose that the potential links between early‐life adversity and adult telomere dynamics could be driven by developmental constraints (the Constraint hypothesis), by the nature/severity of developmental adversity (the Resilience hypothesis), or by developmental‐mediated changes in in idual life‐history strategies (the Pace of Life hypothesis). We discuss these non‐mutually exclusive hypotheses, explore future research directions, and propose specific studies to test these hypotheses. Our article aims to expand our understanding of the evolutionary role of developmental conditions on adult telomere dynamics, stress resilience and ageing.
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 17-01-2018
DOI: 10.1111/TBED.12787
Abstract: Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) poses a major threat to hibian, and more specifically caudata, ersity. Bsal is currently spreading through Europe, and mitigation measures aimed at stopping its spread and preventing its introduction into naïve environments are urgently needed. Screening for presence of Bsal and diagnosis of Bsal-induced disease in hibians are essential core components of effective mitigation plans. Therefore, the aim of this study was to present an overview of all Bsal diagnostic tools together with their limitations and to suggest guidelines to allow uniform interpretation. Here, we investigate the use of different diagnostic tools in post-mortem detection of Bsal and whether competition between Bd and Bsal occurs in the species-specific Bd and Bsal duplex real-time PCR. We also investigate the diagnostic sensitivity, diagnostic specificity and reproducibility of the Bsal real-time PCR and show the use of immunohistochemistry in diagnosis of Bsal-induced chytridiomycosis in hibian s les stored in formaldehyde. Additionally, we have drawn up guidelines for the use and interpretation of the different diagnostic tools for Bsal currently available, to facilitate standardization of execution and interpretation.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-06-2004
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-12-2009
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-02-2016
DOI: 10.1111/EVA.12363
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-06-2022
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-08-2018
DOI: 10.1111/MEC.14808
Abstract: Dispersal and natural selection are key evolutionary processes shaping the distribution of phenotypic and genetic ersity. For species inhabiting complex spatial environments however, it is unclear how the balance between gene flow and selection may be influenced by landscape heterogeneity and environmental variation. Here, we evaluated the effects of dendritic landscape structure and the selective forces of hydroclimatic variation on population genomic parameters for the Murray River rainbowfish, Melanotaenia fluviatilis across the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia. We genotyped 249 rainbowfish at 17,503 high-quality SNP loci and integrated these with models of network connectivity and high-resolution environmental data within a riverscape genomics framework. We tested competing models of gene flow before using multivariate genotype-environment association (GEA) analysis to test for signals of adaptive ergence associated with hydroclimatic variation. Patterns of neutral genetic variation were consistent with expectations based on the stream hierarchy model and M. fluviatilis' moderate dispersal ability. Models incorporating dendritic network structure suggested that landscape heterogeneity is a more important factor determining connectivity and gene flow than waterway distance. Extending these results, we also introduce a novel approach to controlling for the unique effects of dendritic network structure in GEA analyses of populations of aquatic species. We identified 146 candidate loci potentially underlying a polygenic adaptive response to seasonal fluctuations in stream flow and variation in the relative timing of temperature and precipitation extremes. Our findings underscore an emerging predominant role for seasonal variation in hydroclimatic conditions driving local adaptation and are relevant for informing proactive conservation management.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-11-2021
DOI: 10.1111/JEB.13954
Abstract: Life‐history theory predicts a trade‐off between growth rates and lifespan, which is reflected by telomere length, a biomarker of somatic state. We investigated the correlation between telomere length and early‐life growth of wild boar piglets, Sus scrofa , kept under semi‐natural conditions with high food availability to examine our hypothesis that increased pre‐ and postnatal growth will lead to telomere length attrition, but that a high supply of nutrient may provide the possibility to compensate telomere loss via telomere repair mechanisms. As predicted, our data showed a clear negative correlation between birth body mass and initial telomere length: heavier neonates had shorter telomeres at birth, and we did not find an influence of the mother on initial telomere length. Body mass at birth correlated with body mass later in life and postnatal growth rate did not affect telomere length. We observed an increase in telomere length during postnatal development, suggesting that high food availability allowed piglets to invest into both, growth and telomere restoration. The increase in telomere length over the duration of the study was not accompanied by telomerase activity thus, telomere elongation was caused either by alternative mechanisms or by short pulses of telomerase activity that we missed. Taken together, this study suggests a trade‐off between investment into growth and telomere maintenance even before birth and the possibility to compensate telomere attrition during growth under high amounts of available energy.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 29-04-2023
DOI: 10.3390/D15050609
Abstract: Filarioid nematodes (commonly known as filarial worms) are known to impact human and domestic animal health, but studies examining their ecological relevance and impacts on wildlife are still underrepresented. In the case of birds, microfilariae are typically found at low prevalence, but they may negatively affect some fitness-related traits. Here, we study the prevalence and associations of microfilariae in a wild population of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) inhabiting a woodland comprising different forestry formations. In addition, we characterize the filarioid lineages through the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequence. We found a moderate prevalence of microfilariae in the blue tit population (9.4%) and that the presence of such parasites was negatively associated with host body mass. Neither forest type nor host sex influenced microfilariae presence. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the presence of five filarioid lineages clustered in the Onchocercidae family—four out of five lineages clustered in the Splendidofilaria clade, while the remaining lineage could not be clearly assigned to a genus. In addition, this is the first study examining the filarioid lineages infecting the blue tit. Our results suggest that hosts in poorer body condition, in terms of lower body mass, are more susceptible to be parasitized by filarioid nematodes and call for further genetic studies of these parasites.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 23-04-2019
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-019-42756-Z
Abstract: Muscle nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) was recently suggested to play an important role in thermoregulation of species lacking brown adipose tissue (BAT). The mechanism, which is independent of muscle contractions, produces heat based on the activity of an ATPase pump in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SERCA1a) and is controlled by the protein sarcolipin. To evaluate whether muscle NST could indeed play an important role in thermoregulation in species lacking BAT, we investigated the thermogenic capacities of newborn wild boar piglets. During cold exposure over the first 5 days of life, total heat production was improved while shivering intensity decreased, indicating an increasing contribution of NST. S ling skeletal muscle tissue for analyses of SERCA activity as well as gene expression of SERCA1a and sarcolipin, we found an age-related increase in all three variables as well as in body temperature. Hence, the improved thermogenesis during the development of wild boars is not due to shivering but explained by the observed increase in SERCA activity. Our results suggest that muscle NST may be the primary mechanism of heat production during cold stress in large mammals lacking BAT, strengthening the hypothesis that muscle NST has likely played an important role in the evolution of endothermy.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-11-2016
DOI: 10.1038/SREP36856
Abstract: Telomere shortening is thought to be an important biomarker for life history traits such as lifespan and aging, and can be indicative of genome integrity, survival probability and the risk of cancer development. In humans and other animals, telomeres almost always shorten with age, with more rapid telomere attrition in short-lived species. Here, we show that in the edible dormouse ( Glis glis ) telomere length significantly increases from an age of 6 to an age of 9 years. While this finding could be due to higher survival of in iduals with longer telomeres, we also found, using longitudinal measurements, a positive effect of age on the rate of telomere elongation within older in iduals. To our knowledge, no previous study has reported such an effect of age on telomere lengthening. We attribute this exceptional pattern to the peculiar life-history of this species, which skips reproduction in years with low food availability. Further, we show that this “sit tight” strategy in the timing of reproduction is associated with an increasing likelihood for an in idual to reproduce as it ages. As reproduction could facilitate telomere attrition, this life-history strategy may have led to the evolution of increased somatic maintenance and telomere elongation with increasing age.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-04-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S13059-021-02336-9
Abstract: Modern sequencing technologies should make the assembly of the relatively small mitochondrial genomes an easy undertaking. However, few tools exist that address mitochondrial assembly directly. As part of the Vertebrate Genomes Project (VGP) we develop mitoVGP, a fully automated pipeline for similarity-based identification of mitochondrial reads and de novo assembly of mitochondrial genomes that incorporates both long ( 10 kbp, PacBio or Nanopore) and short (100–300 bp, Illumina) reads. Our pipeline leads to successful complete mitogenome assemblies of 100 vertebrate species of the VGP. We observe that tissue type and library size selection have considerable impact on mitogenome sequencing and assembly. Comparing our assemblies to purportedly complete reference mitogenomes based on short-read sequencing, we identify errors, missing sequences, and incomplete genes in those references, particularly in repetitive regions. Our assemblies also identify novel gene region duplications. The presence of repeats and duplications in over half of the species herein assembled indicates that their occurrence is a principle of mitochondrial structure rather than an exception, shedding new light on mitochondrial genome evolution and organization. Our results indicate that even in the “simple” case of vertebrate mitogenomes the completeness of many currently available reference sequences can be further improved, and caution should be exercised before claiming the complete assembly of a mitogenome, particularly from short reads alone.
Publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Date: 08-2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-07-2017
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-017-05329-6
Abstract: The Przewalski’s horse ( Equus ferus przewalskii ), the only remaining wild horse within the equid family, is one of only a handful of species worldwide that went extinct in the wild, was saved by captive breeding, and has been successfully returned to the wild. However, concerns remain that after multiple generations in captivity the ecology of the Przewalski’s horse and / or the ecological conditions in its former range have changed in a way compromising the species’ long term survival. We analyzed stable isotope chronologies from tail hair of pre-extinction and reintroduced Przewalski’s horses from the Dzungarian Gobi and detected a clear difference in the isotopic dietary composition. The direction of the dietary shift from being a mixed feeder in winter and a grazer in summer in the past, to a year-round grazer nowadays, is best explained by a release from human hunting pressure. A changed, positive societal attitude towards the species allows reintroduced Przewalski’s horses to utilize the scarce, grass-dominated pastures of the Gobi alongside local people and their livestock whereas their historic conspecifics were forced into less productive habitats dominated by browse.
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2009
DOI: 10.1071/ZO09035
Abstract: The greater bilby, Macrotis lagotis, is a species of conservation significance in the arid and semiarid zones of Australia. A species recovery program has been underway since the mid-1990s but the incorporation of molecular genetic data within the program has been difficult due to the problems of obtaining regular, population-wide s les of this trap-shy and sparsely distributed species. In this study, we demonstrate that faecal pellets collected from around burrows in the dry, arid habitat of western Queensland provide a viable source for DNA extraction and analysis. Faecal DNA was used to generate population-level estimates of microsatellite and mtDNA ersity for comparison with previous estimates for the natural population derived from tissue s les. Data were used to assess both the reliability of faecal-derived genotypes and the extent of any ersity loss since the previous study. Microsatellite ersity recorded from eight polymorphic markers for the natural population (A = 4.31 ± 0.30, HE = 0.76 ± 0.03) was comparable with the previous study, indicating little change in genetic ersity for the natural population in the 10-year interim. Faecal genotypes generated for the recently reintroduced population matched the known number of founders as well as a known genotype, providing support for the reliability of the faecal DNA approach. The captive and reintroduced populations had significantly lower ersity levels than the natural population (A = 3.59 ± 0.28, HE = 0.68 ± 0.03 A = 3.57 ± 0.20, HE = 0.65 ± 0.03 respectively). Mitochondrial control region analysis, incorporating nested clade phylogeographic analysis (NCPA), agrees with earlier findings that populations of bilbies across the arid zone in Australia have only recently become fragmented, but the case for Queensland bilbies being strongly differentiated from other regions is diminished. Implications from this study include the need to further supplement the captive and reintroduced populations with additional out-bred in iduals and that faecal DNA can be used effectively for ongoing monitoring and management of this species.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-07-2007
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 14-09-2011
Abstract: Ageing can progress at different rates according to an in idual's physiological state. Natural hypothermia, including torpor and hibernation, is a common adaptation of small mammals to survive intermittent or seasonal declines in environmental conditions. In addition to allowing energy savings, hypothermia and torpor have been associated with retarded ageing and increased longevity. We tested the hypothesis that torpor use slows ageing by measuring changes in the relative telomere length (RTL) of Djungarian hamsters, Phodopus sungorus , a highly seasonal rodent using spontaneous daily torpor, over 180 days of exposure to a short-day photoperiod and warm (approx. 20°C) or cold (approx. 9°C) air temperatures. Multi-model inference showed that change in RTL within in iduals was best explained by positive effects of frequency of torpor use, particularly at low body temperatures, as well as the change in body mass and initial RTL. Telomere dynamics have been linked to future survival and proposed as an index of rates of biological ageing. Our results therefore support the hypothesis that daily torpor is associated with physiological changes that increase somatic maintenance and slow the processes of ageing.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 15-10-2002
DOI: 10.1093/NAR/GNF110
Abstract: Although increasingly used for DNA quantification, little is known of the dynamics of the 5' exonuclease assay, particularly in relation to licon length and mismatches at oligonucleotide binding sites. In this study we used seven assays targeting the c-myc proto-oncogene to examine the effects of sequence length, and report a marked reduction in efficiency with increasing fragment length. Three of the assays were further tested on 15 mammalian species to gauge the effect of sequence differences on performance. We show that the effects of probe and primer binding site mismatches are complex, with single point mutations often having little effect on assay performance, while multiple mismatches to the probe caused the greatest reduction in efficiency. The usefulness of the assays in predicting rates of 'allelic dropout' and successful polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) in microsatellite genotyping studies is supported, and we demonstrate that the use of a fragment more similar in size to typical microsatellites (190 bp) is no more informative than a shorter (81 bp) fragment. The assays designed for this study can be used directly for quantification of DNA from many mammalian species or, alternatively, information provided here can be used to design unique sequence-specific assays to maximise assay efficiency.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-04-2004
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-08-2018
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-12-2016
DOI: 10.1038/SREP38378
Abstract: Major urinary proteins (MUPs) are often suggested to be highly polymorphic, and thereby provide unique chemical signatures used for in idual and genetic kin recognition however, studies on MUP variability have been lacking. We surveyed populations of wild house mice ( Mus musculus musculus ), and examined variation of MUP genes and proteins. We sequenced several Mup genes (9 to 11 loci) and unexpectedly found no inter-in idual variation. We also found that microsatellite markers inside the MUP cluster show remarkably low levels of allelic ersity, and significantly lower than the ersity of markers flanking the cluster or other markers in the genome. We found low in idual variation in the number and types of MUP proteins using a shotgun proteomic approach, even among mice with variable MUP electrophoretic profiles. We identified gel bands and spots using high-resolution mass spectrometry and discovered that gel-based methods do not separate MUP proteins, and therefore do not provide measures of MUP ersity, as generally assumed. The low ersity and high homology of Mup genes are likely maintained by purifying selection and gene conversion, and our results indicate that the type of selection on MUPs and their adaptive functions need to be re-evaluated.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 31-07-2018
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-018-29657-3
Abstract: In natural populations, allelic ersity of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is commonly interpreted as resulting from positive selection in varying spatiotemporal pathogenic landscapes. Composite pathogenic landscape data are, however, rarely available. We studied the spatial distribution of allelic ersity at two MHC class II loci ( DQA, DQB ) in hares, Lepus capensis , along a steep ecological gradient in North Africa and tested the role of climatic parameters for the spatial distribution of DQA and DQB proteins. Climatic parameters were considered to reflect to some extent pathogenic landscape variation. We investigated historical and contemporary forces that have shaped the variability at both genes, and tested for differential selective pressure across the ecological gradient by comparing allelic variation at MHC and neutral loci. We found positive selection on both MHC loci and significantly decreasing ersity from North to South Tunisia. Our multinomial linear models revealed significant effects of geographical positions that were correlated with mean annual temperature and precipitation on the occurrence of protein variants, but no effects of co-occurring DQA or DQB proteins, respectively. Diversifying selection, recombination, adaptation to local pathogenic landscapes (supposedly reflected by climate parameters) and neutral demographic processes have shaped the observed MHC ersity and differentiation patterns.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-12-2020
DOI: 10.1007/S11686-020-00325-9
Abstract: Alveolar echinococcosis is a severe helminthic disease in humans caused by larvae of the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. Austria is considered an endemic area with hotspots having up to 45% prevalence (Bagó et al. in Proceedings of the Zoo and Wildlife Health Conference 2019, Berlin, p. 91, 2019). At our facility, we have registered a notifiable increase of animals submitted for the diagnosis of E. multilocularis since 2016. Therefore, we investigated high throughput diagnostic methods to provide rapid and reliable results in comparison with our current method. We have developed and compared a novel method of detection using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) combined with previous target specific extraction according to Maas et al. (Vet Parasitol 230:20–24, 2016), with our current macroscopic method “Shaking in a Vessel Technique” (SVT) by Duscher et al. (Parasitol Res 95(1):40–42, 2005). We investigated 77 wild canids (72 red foxes, 5 golden jackals) using both methods. The data were analyzed using a non-Bayesian approach, applying bootstrapping to create confidentiality intervals. Sensitivity for droplet digital PCR was 90.51% with the 95% credibility interval ranging from 82.50 to 96.92%, whereas mean sensitivity for SVT was 92.04% with a 95% credibility interval ranging from 84.75% to 98.36%. Additionally, a non-linear regression similar to R 2 could be pointed out between the counted worms and the results gathered from ddPCR. Magnetic capture extraction followed by ddPCR shows strong potential as a high throughput method for diagnosing E. multilocularis prevalence in erse canid populations as well as infection intensities of in idual animals, giving valuable epidemiological insights of the distribution amongst wild canids as an alternative to conventional qPCR or macroscopic methods.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.CRVI.2018.06.005
Abstract: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a major group of proteins that recognize molecular components of infectious agents, known as pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). The structure of these genes is similar and characterized by the presence of an ectodomain, a signal transmembrane segment and a highly conserved cytoplasmic domain. The latter domain is homologous to the human interleukin-1 receptor (IL1R) and human IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) and designated TIR domain. The latter domain of the TLR genes was suggested to be very conservative and its evolution is driven by purifying selection. Variability and evolution of the TIR sequences of TLR2 gene were studied in three hare populations from Tunisia with different ecological characteristics (NT-North Tunisia with Mediterranean, CT-Central Tunisia with semi-arid, and ST-South Tunisia with arid climate). Sequencing of a 372bp fragment of TIR2 revealed 25 alleles among 110 hares. Twenty variable nucleotide positions were detected, of which 7 were non-synonymous. The highest variability was observed in CT, with 16 polymorphic positions. In ST, only 4 polymorphic nucleotide positions were detected with all ersity values lower than those recorded for the other two populations. By using several approaches, no positive selection was detected. However, evidence of purifying selection was found at two positions. The logistic models of the most common TIR2 protein variant that we run to examine whether its occurrence was affected by climatic variation independent of the geographic s le location suggested only a longitudinal effect. Finally, the mapping of the non-synonymous mutations to the inferred tertiary protein structure showed that they were all localized in the different loop regions. Among all non-synonymous substitutions, three were suggested to be deleterious as evidenced by PROVEAN analysis. The observed patterns of variability characterized by low genetic ersity in ST might suggest that the TIR region was more affected, than other markers, by genetic drift or/and that these patterns were shaped by different selective pressures under different ecological conditions. Notably, this low ersity was not detected by other (putatively neutral) microsatellite markers analysed in the course of other studies. But low ersity was also found for two MHC class II adaptive immune genes. As expected from functionally important regions, the evolution of the TIR2 domain is mainly driven by purifying selection. However, the occurrence of deleterious non-synonymous substitutions might highlight the flexible evolution of the TIR genes and/or their interactions with other proteins.
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 23-04-2013
Abstract: Small hibernating rodents have greater maximum lifespans and hence appear to age more slowly than similar-sized non-hibernators. We tested for a direct effect of hibernation on somatic maintenance and ageing by measuring seasonal changes in relative telomere length (RTL) in the edible dormouse Glis glis . Average RTL in our population did not change significantly over the hibernation season, and a regression model explaining in idual variation in post-hibernation RTL suggested a significant negative effect of the reduction in body mass over the inactive hibernation period (an index of time spent euthermic), supporting the idea that torpor slows ageing. Over the active season, RTL on average decreased in sub-adults but increased in adults, supporting previous findings of greater telomere shortening at younger ages. Telomere length increase might also have been associated with reproduction, which occurred only in adults. Our study reveals how seasonal changes in physiological state influence the progress of life-history traits, such as somatic maintenance and ageing, in a small hibernating rodent.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 04-04-2014
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 15-01-2018
Abstract: Telomeres, the non-coding ends of linear chromosomes, are thought to be an important mechanism of in idual variability in performance. Research suggests that longer telomeres are indicative of better health and increased fitness however, many of these data are correlational and whether these effects are causal are poorly understood. Experimental tests are emerging in medical and laboratory-based studies, but these types of experiments are rare in natural populations, which precludes conclusions at an evolutionary level. At the crossroads between telomere length and fitness is telomerase, an enzyme that can lengthen telomeres. Experimental modulation of telomerase activity is a powerful tool to manipulate telomere length, and to look at the covariation of telomerase, telomeres and in idual life-history traits. Here, we review studies that manipulate telomerase activity in laboratory conditions and emphasize the associated physiological and fitness consequences. We then discuss how telomerase's impact on ageing may go beyond telomere maintenance. Based on this overview, we then propose several research avenues for future studies to explore how in idual variability in health, reproduction and survival may have coevolved with different patterns of telomerase activity and expression. Such knowledge is of prime importance to fully understand the role that telomere dynamics play in the evolution of animal ageing. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Understanding ersity in telomere dynamics’.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 25-02-2019
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-019-39638-9
Abstract: Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract due to changes in the bacterial flora have been described with increasing incidence in the European brown hare. Despite extensive demographic and phylogeographic research, little is known about the composition of its gut microbiota and how it might vary based on potential environmental or host factors. We analysed the intestinal and faecal microbiota of 3 hare populations by Illumina MiSeq 16S rRNA gene licon sequencing. The phyla and OTU abundance composition differed significantly between intestinal and faecal s les (PERMANOVA: P = 0.002 and P = 0.031, respectively), but in both s le types Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes dominated the microbial community composition (45.51% and 19.30% relative abundance). Intestinal s les contained an enrichment of Proteobacteria compared with faecal s les (15.71-fold change, P 0.001). At OTU level, a significant enrichment with best BLAST hits to the Escherichia-Shigella group, Eubacterium limosum , Sphingomonas kyeonggiensis , Flintibacter butyricus and Blautia faecis were detected in intestinal s les ( P 0.05). In our statistical model, geographic location and possibly associated environmental factors had a greater impact on the microbiota composition than host factors. Population had a significant effect on the composition of abundant intestinal and faecal OTUs, and on the abundance of potential pathogenic bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae , regularly associated with intestinal dysbiosis in hares, in faecal s les. Our study is the first to describe the microbiota in brown hares and provides a foundation to generate hypothesis aiming to test the role of gut health in population fluctuations of the species.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2010
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-05-2023
DOI: 10.1186/S12983-023-00498-9
Abstract: Torpor is an energy saving strategy achieved by substantial reductions of metabolic rate and body temperature that enables animals to survive periods of low resource availability. During hibernation (multiday torpor), the frequency of periodic rewarming—characterised by high levels of oxidative stress—is associated with shortening of telomeres, a marker of somatic maintenance. In this study, we determined the impact of ambient temperature on feeding behaviour and telomere dynamics in hibernating garden dormice ( Eliomys quercinus ) over winter. This obligate hibernator prepares for hibernation by accumulating fat stores but can also feed during hibernation. Food intake, torpor pattern, changes in telomere length, and body mass change were assessed in animals housed at experimentally controlled temperatures of either 14 °C (i.e., a mild winter) or 3 °C (i.e., a cold winter) over 6 months. When hibernating at 14 °C, dormice experienced 1.7-fold more frequent and 2.4-fold longer inter-bout euthermia, and spent significantly less time torpid, compared to animals hibernating at 3 °C. Higher food intake enabled in iduals to compensate for increased energetic costs when hibernating at milder temperatures (14 °C vs. 3 °C), to buffer body mass loss and thus increase winter survival. Interestingly, we observed a significant increase of telomere length over the entire hibernation period, irrespective of temperature treatment. We conclude that higher temperatures during winter, if associated with sufficient food availability, can have a positive effect on the in idual’s energy balance and somatic maintenance. These results suggest that winter food availability might be a crucial determinant for the survival of the garden dormouse in the context of ever-increasing environmental temperatures.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-08-2022
DOI: 10.1186/S12862-022-02050-5
Abstract: Telomere length provides a physiological proxy for accumulated stress in animals. While there is a growing consensus over how telomere dynamics and their patterns are linked to life history variation and in idual experience, knowledge on the impact of exposure to different stressors at a large spatial scale on telomere length is still lacking. How exposure to different stressors at a regional scale interacts with in idual differences in life history is also poorly understood. To better understand large-scale regional influences, we investigated telomere length variation in moose ( Alces alces ) distributed across three ecoregions. We analyzed 153 s les of 106 moose representing moose of both sexes and range of ages to measure relative telomere lengths (RTL) in white blood cells. We found that average RTL was significantly shorter in a northern (montane) and southern (sarmatic) ecoregion where moose experience chronic stress related to severe summer and winter temperatures as well as high anthropogenic land-use compared to the boreal region. Our study suggests that animals in the northern boreal forests, with relatively homogenous land use, are less disturbed by environmental and anthropogenic stressors. In contrast, animals in areas experiencing a higher rate of anthropogenic and environmental change experience increased stress. Although animals can often adapt to predictable stressors, our data suggest that some environmental conditions, even though predictable and ubiquitous, can generate population level differences of long-term stress. By measuring RTL in moose for the first time, we provide valuable insights towards our current understanding of telomere biology in free-ranging wildlife in human-modified ecosystems.
Start Date: 2018
End Date: 2021
Funder: FWF Austrian Science Fund
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