TY  - JOUR
A1  - Brügger, Sandra Olivia
A1  - Gobet, Erika
A1  - Sigl, Michael
A1  - Osmont, Dimitri
A1  - Papina, Tatyana
A1  - Rudaya, Natalia
A1  - Schwikowski-Gigar, Margit
A1  - Tinner, Willy
T1  - Ice records provide new insights into climatic vulnerability of Central Asian forest and steppe communities
JF  - Global and planetary change
N2  - Forest and steppe communities in the Altai region of Central Asia are threatened by changing climate and anthropogenic pressure. Specifically, increasing drought and grazing pressure may cause collapses of moisture-demanding plant communities, particularly forests. Knowledge about past vegetation and fire responses to climate and land use changes may help anticipating future ecosystem risks, given that it has the potential to disclose mechanisms and processes that govern ecosystem vulnerability. We present a unique paleoecological record from the high-alpine Tsambagarav glacier in the Mongolian Altai that provides novel large-scale information on vegetation, fire and pollution with an exceptional temporal resolution and precision. Our palynological record identifies several late-Holocene boreal forest expansions, contractions and subsequent recoveries. Maximum forest expansions occurred at 3000-2800 BC, 2400-2100 BC, and 1900-1800 BC. After 1800 BC mixed boreal forest communities irrecoverably declined. Fires reached a maximum at 1600 BC, 200 years after the final forest collapse. Our multiproxy data suggest that burning peaked in response to dead biomass accumulation resulting from forest diebacks. Vegetation and fire regimes partly decoupled from climate after 1700 AD, when atmospheric industrial pollution began, and land use intensified. We conclude that moisture availability was more important than temperature for past vegetation dynamics, in particular for forest loss and steppe expansion. The past Mongolian Altai evidence implies that in the future forests of the Russian Altai may collapse in response to reduced moisture availability.
KW  - Boreal forest diebacks
KW  - Climatic tipping points
KW  - Diversity
KW  - Ice core
KW  - Moisture change
KW  - Pollen
KW  - Microscopic charcoal
KW  - SCP
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2018.07.010
SN  - 0921-8181
SN  - 1872-6364
VL  - 169
SP  - 188
EP  - 201
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  - 
TY  - GEN
A1  - Albers, Philip
A1  - Uestuen, Suayib
A1  - Witzel, Katja
A1  - Bornke, Frederik
T1  - Identification of a novel target of the bacterial effector HopZ1a
T2  - Phytopathology
N2  - The plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae is a gram-negative bacterium which infects a wide range of plant species including important crops plants. To suppress plant immunity and cause disease P.syringae injects type-III effector proteins (T3Es) into the plant cell cytosol. In this study, we identified a novel target of the well characterized bacterial T3E HopZ1a. HopZ1a is an acetyltransferase that was shown to disrupt vesicle transport during innate immunity by acetylating tubulin. Using a yeast-two-hybrid screen approach, we identified a REMORIN (REM) protein from tobacco as a novel HopZ1a target. HopZ1a interacts with REM at the plasma membrane (PM) as shown by split-YFP experiments. Interestingly, we found that PBS1, a well-known kinase involved in plant immunity also interacts with REM in pull-down assays, and at the PM as shown by BiFC. Furthermore, we confirmed that REM is phosphorylated by PBS1 in vitro. Overexpression of REM provokes the upregulation of defense genes and leads to disease-like phenotypes pointing to a role of REM in plant immune signaling. Further protein-protein interaction studies reveal novel REM binding partners with a possible role in plant immune signaling. Thus, REM might act as an assembly hub for an immune signaling complex targeted by HopZ1a. Taken together, this is the first report describing that a REM protein is targeted by a bacterial effector. How HopZ1a might mechanistically manipulate the plant immune system through interfering with REM function will be discussed.
Y1  - 2018
SN  - 0031-949X
SN  - 1943-7684
VL  - 108
IS  - 10
PB  - American Phytopathological Society
CY  - Saint Paul
ER  - 
TY  - THES
A1  - Kammel, Anne
T1  - Identifizierung früher epigenetischer Veränderungen, die zur Ausbildung einer Fettleber beitragen
Y1  - 2018
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Grau, José Horacio
A1  - Hackl, Thomas
A1  - Koepfli, Klaus-Peter
A1  - Hofreiter, Michael
T1  - Improving draft genome contiguity with reference-derived in silico mate-pair libraries
JF  - GigaScience
N2  - Background

Contiguous genome assemblies are a highly valued biological resource because of the higher number of completely annotated genes and genomic elements that are usable compared to fragmented draft genomes. Nonetheless, contiguity is difficult to obtain if only low coverage data and/or only distantly related reference genome assemblies are available.

Findings

In order to improve genome contiguity, we have developed Cross-Species Scaffolding—a new pipeline that imports long-range distance information directly into the de novo assembly process by constructing mate-pair libraries in silico.

Conclusions

We show how genome assembly metrics and gene prediction dramatically improve with our pipeline by assembling two primate genomes solely based on ∼30x coverage of shotgun sequencing data.
KW  - genome assembly
KW  - mate-pairs
KW  - in silico
KW  - scaffolding
KW  - shotgun sequencing
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1093/gigascience/giy029
SN  - 2047-217X
VL  - 7
IS  - 5
SP  - 1
EP  - 6
PB  - Oxford University Press
CY  - Oxford
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Maares, Maria
A1  - Keil, Claudia
A1  - Koza, Jenny
A1  - Straubing, Sophia
A1  - Schwerdtle, Tanja
A1  - Haase, Hajo
T1  - In Vitro Studies on Zinc Binding and Buffering by Intestinal Mucins
JF  - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
N2  - The investigation of luminal factors influencing zinc availability and accessibility in the intestine is of great interest when analyzing parameters regulating intestinal zinc resorption. Of note, intestinal mucins were suggested to play a beneficial role in the luminal availability of zinc. Their exact zinc binding properties, however, remain unknown and the impact of these glycoproteins on human intestinal zinc resorption has not been investigated in detail. Thus, the aim of this study is to elucidate the impact of intestinal mucins on luminal uptake of zinc into enterocytes and its transfer into the blood. In the present study, in vitro zinc binding properties of mucins were analyzed using commercially available porcine mucins and secreted mucins of the goblet cell line HT-29-MTX. The molecular zinc binding capacity and average zinc binding affinity of these glycoproteins demonstrates that mucins contain multiple zinc-binding sites with biologically relevant affinity within one mucin molecule. Zinc uptake into the enterocyte cell line Caco-2 was impaired by zinc-depleted mucins. Yet this does not represent their form in the intestinal lumen in vivo under zinc adequate conditions. In fact, zinc-uptake studies into enterocytes in the presence of mucins with differing degree of zinc saturation revealed zinc buffering by these glycoproteins, indicating that mucin-bound zinc is still available for the cells. Finally, the impact of mucins on zinc resorption using three-dimensional cultures was studied comparing the zinc transfer of a Caco-2/HT-29-MTX co-culture and conventional Caco-2 monoculture. Here, the mucin secreting co-cultures yielded higher fractional zinc resorption and elevated zinc transport rates, suggesting that intestinal mucins facilitate the zinc uptake into enterocytes and act as a zinc delivery system for the intestinal epithelium.
KW  - intestinal zinc resorption
KW  - zinc binding
KW  - mucus layer
KW  - intestinal mucins
KW  - in vitro intestinal model
KW  - goblet cells
KW  - Caco-2/HT-29-MTX-model
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19092662
SN  - 1422-0067
VL  - 19
IS  - 9
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Uribe, Veronica
A1  - Ramadass, Radhan
A1  - Dogra, Deepika
A1  - Rasouli, S. Javad
A1  - Gunawan, Felix
A1  - Nakajima, Hiroyuki
A1  - Chiba, Ayano
A1  - Reischauer, Sven
A1  - Mochizuki, Naoki
A1  - Stainier, Didier Y. R.
T1  - In vivo analysis of cardiomyocyte proliferation during trabeculation
JF  - Development : Company of Biologists
N2  - Cardiomyocyte proliferation is crucial for cardiac growth, patterning and regeneration; however, few studies have investigated the behavior of dividing cardiomyocytes in vivo. Here, we use time-lapse imaging of beating hearts in combination with the FUCCI system to monitor the behavior of proliferating cardiomyocytes in developing zebrafish. Confirming in vitro observations, sarcomere disassembly, as well as changes in cell shape and volume, precede cardiomyocyte cytokinesis. Notably, cardiomyocytes in zebrafish embryos and young larvae mostly divide parallel to the myocardial wall in both the compact and trabecular layers, and cardiomyocyte proliferation is more frequent in the trabecular layer. While analyzing known regulators of cardiomyocyte proliferation, we observed that the Nrg/ErbB2 and TGF beta signaling pathways differentially affect compact and trabecular layer cardiomyocytes, indicating that distinct mechanisms drive proliferation in these two layers. In summary, our data indicate that, in zebrafish, cardiomyocyte proliferation is essential for trabecular growth, but not initiation, and set the stage to further investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving cardiomyocyte proliferation in vivo.
KW  - Heart development
KW  - Cardiomyocyte proliferation
KW  - Trabeculation
KW  - Sarcomere
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.164194
SN  - 0950-1991
SN  - 1477-9129
VL  - 145
IS  - 14
PB  - Company biologists LTD
CY  - Cambridge
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Romero-Mujalli, Daniel
A1  - Jeltsch, Florian
A1  - Tiedemann, Ralph
T1  - Individual-based modeling of eco-evolutionary dynamics
BT  - state of the art and future directions
JF  - Regional environmental change
N2  - A challenge for eco-evolutionary research is to better understand the effect of climate and landscape changes on species and their distribution. Populations of species can respond to changes in their environment through local genetic adaptation or plasticity, dispersal, or local extinction. The individual-based modeling (IBM) approach has been repeatedly applied to assess organismic responses to environmental changes. IBMs simulate emerging adaptive behaviors from the basic entities upon which both ecological and evolutionary mechanisms act. The objective of this review is to summarize the state of the art of eco-evolutionary IBMs and to explore to what degree they already address the key responses of organisms to environmental change. In this, we identify promising approaches and potential knowledge gaps in the implementation of eco-evolutionary mechanisms to motivate future research. Using mainly the ISI Web of Science, we reveal that most of the progress in eco-evolutionary IBMs in the last decades was achieved for genetic adaptation to novel local environmental conditions. There is, however, not a single eco-evolutionary IBM addressing the three potential adaptive responses simultaneously. Additionally, IBMs implementing adaptive phenotypic plasticity are rare. Most commonly, plasticity was implemented as random noise or reaction norms. Our review further identifies a current lack of models where plasticity is an evolving trait. Future eco-evolutionary models should consider dispersal and plasticity as evolving traits with their associated costs and benefits. Such an integrated approach could help to identify conditions promoting population persistence depending on the life history strategy of organisms and the environment they experience.
KW  - Modeling
KW  - Individual-based models
KW  - Ecology
KW  - Evolution
KW  - Eco-evolutionary dynamics
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-018-1406-7
SN  - 1436-3798
SN  - 1436-378X
VL  - 19
IS  - 1
SP  - 1
EP  - 12
PB  - Springer
CY  - Heidelberg
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - van Velzen, Ellen
A1  - Thieser, Tamara
A1  - Berendonk, Thomas U.
A1  - Weitere, Markus
A1  - Gaedke, Ursula
T1  - Inducible defense destabilizes predator–prey dynamics
BT  - the importance of multiple predators
JF  - Oikos
N2  - Phenotypic plasticity in prey can have a dramatic impact on predator-prey dynamics, e.g. by inducible defense against temporally varying levels of predation. Previous work has overwhelmingly shown that this effect is stabilizing: inducible defenses dampen the amplitudes of population oscillations or eliminate them altogether. However, such studies have neglected scenarios where being protected against one predator increases vulnerability to another (incompatible defense). Here we develop a model for such a scenario, using two distinct prey phenotypes and two predator species. Each prey phenotype is defended against one of the predators, and vulnerable to the other. In strong contrast with previous studies on the dynamic effects of plasticity involving a single predator, we find that increasing the level of plasticity consistently destabilizes the system, as measured by the amplitude of oscillations and the coefficients of variation of both total prey and total predator biomasses. We explain this unexpected and seemingly counterintuitive result by showing that plasticity causes synchronization between the two prey phenotypes (and, through this, between the predators), thus increasing the temporal variability in biomass dynamics. These results challenge the common view that plasticity should always have a stabilizing effect on biomass dynamics: adding a single predator-prey interaction to an established model structure gives rise to a system where different mechanisms may be at play, leading to dramatically different outcomes.
KW  - phenotypic plasticity
KW  - inducible defense
KW  - stability
KW  - synchronization
KW  - predator-prey dynamics
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.04868
SN  - 0030-1299
SN  - 1600-0706
VL  - 127
IS  - 11
SP  - 1551
EP  - 1562
PB  - Wiley
CY  - Hoboken
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Oprzeska-Zingrebe, Ewa Anna
A1  - Meyer, Susann
A1  - Roloff, Alexander
A1  - Kunte, Hans-Jörg
A1  - Smiatek, Jens
T1  - Influence of compatible solute ectoine on distinct DNA structures
BT  - thermodynamic insights into molecular binding mechanisms and destabilization effects
JF  - Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies
N2  - In nature, the cellular environment of DNA includes not only water and ions, but also other components and co-solutes, which can exert both stabilizing and destabilizing effects on particular oligonucleotide conformations. Among them, ectoine, known as an important osmoprotectant organic co-solute in a broad range of pharmaceutical products, turns out to be of particular relevance. In this article, we study the influence of ectoine on a short single-stranded DNA fragment and on double-stranded helical B-DNA in aqueous solution by means of atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in combination with molecular theories of solution. Our results demonstrate a conformation-dependent binding behavior of ectoine, which favors the unfolded state of DNA by a combination of electrostatic and dispersion interactions. In conjunction with the Kirkwood-Buff theory, we introduce a simple framework to compute the influence of ectoine on the DNA melting temperature. Our findings reveal a significant linear decrease of the melting temperature with increasing ectoine concentration, which is found to be in qualitative agreement with results from denaturation experiments. The outcomes of our computer simulations provide a detailed mechanistic rationale for the surprising destabilizing influence of ectoine on distinct DNA structures.
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1039/c8cp03543a
SN  - 1463-9076
SN  - 1463-9084
VL  - 20
IS  - 40
SP  - 25861
EP  - 25874
PB  - Royal Society of Chemistry
CY  - Cambridge
ER  - 
TY  - THES
A1  - Al Fadel, Frdoos
T1  - Influence of sphingosine 1-phosphate and its receptor modulators on the development of liver fibrosis
Y1  - 2018
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Rodriguez Cubillos, Andres Eduardo
A1  - Tong, Hao
A1  - Alseekh, Saleh
A1  - de Abreu e Lima, Francisco Anastacio
A1  - Yu, Jing
A1  - Fernie, Alisdair R.
A1  - Nikoloski, Zoran
A1  - Laitinen, Roosa A. E.
T1  - Inheritance patterns in metabolism and growth in diallel crosses of Arabidopsis thaliana from a single growth habitat
JF  - Heredity
N2  - Metabolism is a key determinant of plant growth and modulates plant adaptive responses. Increased metabolic variation due to heterozygosity may be beneficial for highly homozygous plants if their progeny is to respond to sudden changes in the habitat. Here, we investigate the extent to which heterozygosity contributes to the variation in metabolism and size of hybrids of Arabidopsis thaliana whose parents are from a single growth habitat. We created full diallel crosses among seven parents, originating from Southern Germany, and analysed the inheritance patterns in primary and secondary metabolism as well as in rosette size in situ. In comparison to primary metabolites, compounds from secondary metabolism were more variable and showed more pronounced non-additive inheritance patterns which could be attributed to epistasis. In addition, we showed that glucosinolates, among other secondary metabolites, were positively correlated with a proxy for plant size. Therefore, our study demonstrates that heterozygosity in local A. thaliana population generates metabolic variation and may impact several tasks directly linked to metabolism.
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41437-017-0030-5
SN  - 0018-067X
SN  - 1365-2540
VL  - 120
IS  - 5
SP  - 463
EP  - 473
PB  - Nature Publ. Group
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Scheunemann, Michael
A1  - Brady, Siobhan M.
A1  - Nikoloski, Zoran
T1  - Integration of large-scale data for extraction of integrated Arabidopsis root cell-type specific models
JF  - Scientific reports
N2  - Plant organs consist of multiple cell types that do not operate in isolation, but communicate with each other to maintain proper functions. Here, we extract models specific to three developmental stages of eight root cell types or tissue layers in Arabidopsis thaliana based on a state-of-the-art constraint-based modeling approach with all publicly available transcriptomics and metabolomics data from this system to date. We integrate these models into a multi-cell root model which we investigate with respect to network structure, distribution of fluxes, and concordance to transcriptomics and proteomics data. From a methodological point, we show that the coupling of tissue-specific models in a multi-tissue model yields a higher specificity of the interconnected models with respect to network structure and flux distributions. We use the extracted models to predict and investigate the flux of the growth hormone indole-3-actetate and its antagonist, trans-Zeatin, through the root. While some of predictions are in line with experimental evidence, constraints other than those coming from the metabolic level may be necessary to replicate the flow of indole-3-actetate from other simulation studies. Therefore, our work provides the means for data-driven multi-tissue metabolic model extraction of other Arabidopsis organs in the constraint-based modeling framework.
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-26232-8
SN  - 2045-2322
VL  - 8
PB  - Nature Publ. Group
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wuster, Wolfgang
A1  - Chirio, Laurent
A1  - Trape, Jean-Francois
A1  - Ineich, Ivan
A1  - Jackson, Kate
A1  - Greenbaum, Eli
A1  - Barron, Cesar
A1  - Kusamba, Chifundera
A1  - Nagy, Zoltan T.
A1  - Storey, Richard
A1  - Hall, Cara
A1  - Wuster, Catharine E.
A1  - Barlow, Axel
A1  - Broadley, Donald G.
T1  - Integration of nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences and morphology reveals unexpected diversity in the forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca) species complex in Central and West Africa (Serpentes: Elapidae)
JF  - Zootaxa : an international journal of zootaxonomy ; a rapid international journal for animal taxonomists
N2  - Cobras are among the most widely known venomous snakes, and yet their taxonomy remains incompletely understood, particularly in Africa. Here, we use a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences and morphological data to diagnose species limits within the African forest cobra, Naja (Boulengerina) melanoleuca. Mitochondrial DNA sequences reveal deep divergences within this taxon. Congruent patterns of variation in mtDNA, nuclear genes and morphology support the recognition of five separate species, confirming the species status of N. subfulva and N. peroescobari, and revealing two previously unnamed West African species, which are described as new: Naja (Boulengerina) guineensis sp. nov. Broadley, Trape, Chirio, Ineich & Wuster, from the Upper Guinea forest of West Africa, and Naja (Boulengerina) savannula sp. nov. Broadley, Trape, Chirio & Wuster, a banded form from the savanna-forest mosaic of the Guinea and Sudanian savannas of West Africa. The discovery of cryptic diversity in this iconic group highlights our limited understanding of tropical African biodiversity, hindering our ability to conserve it effectively.
KW  - Integrative taxonomy
KW  - Africa
KW  - Naja melanoleuca
KW  - Naja guineensis sp nov.
KW  - Naja savannula sp nov.
KW  - Elapidae
KW  - systematics
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4455.1.3
SN  - 1175-5326
SN  - 1175-5334
VL  - 4455
IS  - 1
SP  - 68
EP  - 98
PB  - Magnolia Press
CY  - Auckland
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Crawford, Michael
A1  - Jeltsch, Florian
A1  - May, Felix
A1  - Grimm, Volker
A1  - Schlägel, Ulrike E.
T1  - Intraspecific trait variation increases species diversity in a trait-based grassland model
JF  - Oikos
N2  - Intraspecific trait variation (ITV) is thought to play a significant role in community assembly, but the magnitude and direction of its influence are not well understood. Although it may be critical to better explain population persistence, species interactions, and therefore biodiversity patterns, manipulating ITV in experiments is challenging. We therefore incorporated ITV into a trait‐ and individual‐based model of grassland community assembly by adding variation to the plants’ functional traits, which then drive life‐history tradeoffs. Varying the amount of ITV in the simulation, we examine its influence on pairwise‐coexistence and then on the species diversity in communities of different initial sizes. We find that ITV increases the ability of the weakest species to invade most, but that this effect does not scale to the community level, where the primary effect of ITV is to increase the persistence and abundance of the competitively‐average species. Diversity of the initial community is also of critical importance in determining ITV's efficacy; above a threshold of interspecific diversity, ITV does not increase diversity further. For communities below this threshold, ITV mainly helps to increase diversity in those communities that would otherwise be low‐diversity. These findings suggest that ITV actively maintains diversity by helping the species on the margins of persistence, but mostly in habitats of relatively low alpha and beta diversity.
KW  - community assembly
KW  - individual-based model
KW  - intraspecific trait variation
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.05567
SN  - 0030-1299
SN  - 1600-0706
VL  - 128
IS  - 3
SP  - 441
EP  - 455
PB  - Wiley
CY  - Hoboken
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Yan, Wan
A1  - Fang, Liang
A1  - Nöchel, Ulrich
A1  - Gould, Oliver E. C.
A1  - Behl, Marc
A1  - Kratz, Karl
A1  - Lendlein, Andreas
T1  - Investigating the roles of crystallizable and glassy switching segments within multiblock copolymer shape-memory materials
JF  - MRS Advances
N2  - The variation of the molecular architecture of multiblock copolymers has enabled the introduction of functional behaviour and the control of key mechanical properties. In the current study, we explore the synergistic relationship of two structural components in a shape-memory material formed of a multiblock copolymer with crystallizable poly(epsilon-caprolactone) and crystallizable polyfoligo(3S-iso-butylmorpholine-2,5-dione) segments (PCL-PIBMD). The thermal and structural properties of PCL-PIBMD films were compared with PCI.-PU and PMMD-PU investigated by means of DSC, SAXS and WARS measurements. The shape-memory properties were quantified by cyclic, thermomechanical tensile tests, where deformation strains up to 900% were applied for programming PCL-PIBMD films at 50 degrees C. Toluene vapor treatment experiments demonstrated that the temporary shape was fixed mainly by glassy PIBMD domains at strains lower than 600% with the PCL contribution to fixation increasing to 42 +/- 2% at programming strains of 900% This study into the shape-memory mechanism of PCL-PIBMD provides insight into the structure function relation in multiblock copolymers with both crystallizable and glassy switching segments.
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2018.590
SN  - 2059-8521
VL  - 3
IS  - 63
SP  - 3741
EP  - 3749
PB  - Cambridge Univ. Press
CY  - New York
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Abbas, Ioana M.
A1  - Vranic, Marija
A1  - Hoffmann, Holger
A1  - El-Khatib, Ahmed H.
A1  - Montes-Bayón, María
A1  - Möller, Heiko Michael
A1  - Weller, Michael G.
T1  - Investigations of the Copper Peptide Hepcidin-25 by
LC-MS/MS and NMR⁺
JF  - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
N2  - Hepcidin-25 was identified as themain iron regulator in the human body, and it by binds to the sole iron-exporter ferroportin. Studies showed that the N-terminus of hepcidin is responsible for this interaction, the same N-terminus that encompasses a small copper(II) binding site known as the ATCUN (amino-terminal Cu(II)- and Ni(II)-binding) motif. Interestingly, this copper-binding property is largely ignored in most papers dealing with hepcidin-25. In this context, detailed investigations of the complex formed between hepcidin-25 and copper could reveal insight into its biological role. The present work focuses on metal-bound hepcidin-25 that can be considered the biologically active form. The first part is devoted to the reversed-phase chromatographic separation of copper-bound and copper-free hepcidin-25 achieved by applying basic mobile phases containing 0.1% ammonia. Further, mass spectrometry (tandemmass spectrometry (MS/MS), high-resolutionmass spectrometry (HRMS)) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were employed to characterize the copper-peptide. Lastly, a three-dimensional (3D)model of hepcidin-25with bound copper(II) is presented. The identification of metal complexes and potential isoforms and isomers, from which the latter usually are left undetected by mass spectrometry, led to the conclusion that complementary analytical methods are needed to characterize a peptide calibrant or referencematerial comprehensively. Quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR), inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), ion-mobility spectrometry (IMS) and chiral amino acid analysis (AAA) should be considered among others.
KW  - hepcidin-25
KW  - copper
KW  - nickel
KW  - copper complex
KW  - ATCUN motif
KW  - metal complex
KW  - MS
KW  - NMR structure
KW  - metal peptide
KW  - metalloprotein
KW  - metallopeptide
KW  - isomerization
KW  - racemization
KW  - purity
KW  - reference material
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19082271
SN  - 1422-0067
SN  - 1661-6596
VL  - 19
IS  - 8
PB  - Molecular Diversity Preservation International
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Burschel, Sabrina
A1  - Decovic, Doris Kreuzer
A1  - Nuber, Franziska
A1  - Stiller, Marie
A1  - Hofmann, Maud
A1  - Zupok, Arkadiusz
A1  - Siemiatkowska, Beata
A1  - Gorka, Michal Jakub
A1  - Leimkühler, Silke
A1  - Friedrich, Thorsten
T1  - Iron-sulfur cluster carrier proteins involved in the assembly of Escherichia coli NADH
BT  - ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I)
JF  - Molecular microbiology
N2  - The NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (respiratory complex I) is the main entry point for electrons into the Escherichia coli aerobic respiratory chain. With its sophisticated setup of 13 different subunits and 10 cofactors, it is anticipated that various chaperones are needed for its proper maturation. However, very little is known about the assembly of E. coli complex I, especially concerning the incorporation of the iron-sulfur clusters. To identify iron-sulfur cluster carrier proteins possibly involved in the process, we generated knockout strains of NfuA, BolA, YajL, Mrp, GrxD and IbaG that have been reported either to be involved in the maturation of mitochondrial complex I or to exert influence on the clusters of bacterial complex. We determined the NADH and succinate oxidase activities of membranes from the mutant strains to monitor the specificity of the individual mutations for complex I. The deletion of NfuA, BolA and Mrp led to a decreased stability and partially disturbed assembly of the complex as determined by sucrose gradient centrifugation and native PAGE. EPR spectroscopy of cytoplasmic membranes revealed that the BolA deletion results in the loss of the binuclear Fe/S cluster N1b.
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/mmi.14137
SN  - 0950-382X
SN  - 1365-2958
VL  - 111
IS  - 1
SP  - 31
EP  - 45
PB  - Wiley
CY  - Hoboken
ER  - 
TY  - GEN
A1  - Higgs, Eric S.
A1  - Harris, Jim A.
A1  - Heger, Tina
A1  - Hobbs, Richard J.
A1  - Murphy, Stephen D.
A1  - Suding, Katharine N.
T1  - Keep ecological restoration open and flexible
T2  - Nature Ecology & Evolution
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-018-0483-9
SN  - 2397-334X
VL  - 2
IS  - 4
SP  - 580
EP  - 580
PB  - Nature Publ. Group
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Hochrein, Lena
A1  - Mitchell, Leslie A.
A1  - Schulz, Karina
A1  - Messerschmidt, Katrin
A1  - Müller-Röber, Bernd
T1  - L-SCRaMbLE as a tool for light-controlled Cre-mediated recombination in yeast
JF  - Nature Communications
N2  - The synthetic yeast genome constructed by the International Synthetic Yeast Sc2.0 consortium adds thousands of loxPsym recombination sites to all 16 redesigned chromosomes, allowing the shuffling of Sc2.0 chromosome parts by the Cre-loxP recombination system thereby enabling genome evolution experiments. Here, we present L-SCRaMbLE, a lightcontrolled Cre recombinase for use in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. L-SCRaMbLE allows tight regulation of recombinase activity with up to 179-fold induction upon exposure to red light. The extent of recombination depends on induction time and concentration of the chromophore phycocyanobilin (PCB), which can be easily adjusted. The tool presented here provides improved recombination control over the previously reported estradiol-dependent SCRaMbLE induction system, mediating a larger variety of possible recombination events in SCRaMbLE-ing a reporter plasmid. Thereby, L-SCRaMbLE boosts the potential for further customization and provides a facile application for use in the S. cerevisiae genome reengineering project Sc2.0 or in other recombination-based systems.
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-02208-6
SN  - 2041-1723
VL  - 9
PB  - Nature Publ. Group
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schirrmeister, Lutz
A1  - Bobrov, Anatoly
A1  - Raschke, Elena
A1  - Herzschuh, Ulrike
A1  - Strauss, Jens
A1  - Pestryakova, Luidmila Agafyevna
A1  - Wetterich, Sebastian
T1  - Late Holocene ice-wedge polygon dynamics in northeastern Siberian coastal lowlands
JF  - Arctic, antarctic, and alpine research : an interdisciplinary journal
N2  - Ice-wedge polygons are common features of northeastern Siberian lowland periglacial tundra landscapes. To deduce the formation and alternation of ice-wedge polygons in the Kolyma Delta and in the Indigirka Lowland, we studied shallow cores, up to 1.3 m deep, from polygon center and rim locations. The formation of well-developed low-center polygons with elevated rims and wet centers is shown by the beginning of peat accumulation, increased organic matter contents, and changes in vegetation cover from Poaceae-, Alnus-, and Betula-dominated pollen spectra to dominating Cyperaceae and Botryoccocus presence, and Carex and Drepanocladus revolvens macro-fossils. Tecamoebae data support such a change from wetland to open-water conditions in polygon centers by changes from dominating eurybiontic and sphagnobiontic to hydrobiontic species assemblages. The peat accumulation indicates low-center polygon formation and started between 2380 +/- 30 and 1676 +/- 32 years before present (BP) in the Kolyma Delta. We recorded an opposite change from open-water to wetland conditions because of rim degradation and consecutive high-center polygon formation in the Indigirka Lowland between 2144 +/- 33 and 1632 +/- 32 years BP. The late Holocene records of polygon landscape development reveal changes in local hydrology and soil moisture.
KW  - Permafrost
KW  - cryolithology
KW  - radiocarbon dating
KW  - paleoecology
KW  - rhizopods
KW  - pollen
KW  - plant macro-fossils
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2018.1462595
SN  - 1523-0430
SN  - 1938-4246
VL  - 50
IS  - 1
PB  - Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado
CY  - Boulder
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Mittler, Udo
A1  - Blasius, Bernd
A1  - Gaedke, Ursula
A1  - Ryabov, Alexey B.
T1  - Length-volume relationship of lake phytoplankton
JF  - Limnology and Oceanography: Methods
N2  - The shapes of phytoplankton units (unicellular organisms and colonies) are extremely diverse, and no unique relationship exists between their volume, V, and longest linear dimension, L. However, an approximate scaling between these parameters can be found because the shape variations within each size class are constrained by cell physiology, grazing pressure, and optimality of resource acquisition. To determine this scaling and to test for its seasonal and interannual variation under changing environmental conditions, we performed weighted regression analysis of time-dependent length-volume relations of the phytoplankton community in large deep Lake Constance from 1979 to 1999. We show that despite a large variability in species composition, the V(L) relationship can be approximated as a power law, V similar to L-alpha, with a scaling exponent alpha = 3 for small cells (L < 25 mu m) and alpha = 1.7 if the fitting is performed over the entire length range, including individual cells and colonies. The best description is provided by a transitional power function describing a regime change from a scaling exponent of 3 for small cells to an exponent of 0.4 in the range of large phytoplankton. Testing different weighted fitting approaches we show that remarkably the best prediction of the total community biovolume from measurements of L and cell density is obtained when the regression is weighted with the squares of species abundances. Our approach should also be applicable to other systems and allows converting phytoplankton length distributions (e.g., obtained with automatic monitoring such as flow cytometry) into distributions of biovolume and biovolume-related phytoplankton traits.
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/lom3.10296
SN  - 1541-5856
VL  - 17
IS  - 1
SP  - 58
EP  - 68
PB  - Wiley
CY  - Hoboken
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Fischer, Stefan
A1  - Mayer-Scholl, Anne
A1  - Imholt, Christian
A1  - Spierling, Nastasja G.
A1  - Heuser, Elisa
A1  - Schmidt, Sabrina
A1  - Reil, Daniela
A1  - Rosenfeld, Ulrike
A1  - Jacob, Jens
A1  - Nöckler, Karsten
A1  - Ulrich, Rainer G.
T1  - Leptospira genomospecies and sequence type prevalence in small mammal populations in Germany
JF  - Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases
N2  - Leptospirosis is a worldwide emerging infectious disease caused by zoonotic bacteria of the genus Leptospira. Numerous mammals, including domestic and companion animals, can be infected by Leptospira spp., but rodents and other small mammals are considered the main reservoir. The annual number of recorded human leptospirosis cases in Germany (2001-2016) was 25-166. Field fever outbreaks in strawberry pickers, due to infection with Leptospira kirschneri serovar Grippotyphosa, were reported in 2007 and 2014. To identify the most commonly occurring Leptospira genomospecies, sequence types (STs), and their small mammal host specificity, a monitoring study was performed during 2010-2014 in four federal states of Germany. Initial screening of kidney tissues of 3,950 animals by PCR targeting the lipl32 gene revealed 435 rodents of 6 species and 89 shrews of three species positive for leptospiral DNA. PCR-based analyses resulted in the identification of the genomospecies L. kirschneri (62.7%), Leptospira interrogans (28.3%), and Leptospira borgpetersenii (9.0%), which are represented by four, one, and two STs, respectively. The average Leptospira prevalence was highest (approximate to 30%) in common voles (Microtus arvalis) and field voles (Microtus agrestis). Both species were exclusively infected with L. kirschneri. In contrast, in bank voles (Myodes glareolus) and yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis), DNA of all three genomospecies was detected, and in common shrews (Sorex araneus) DNA of L. kirschneri and L. borgpetersenii was identified. The association between individual infection status and demographic factors varied between species; infection status was always positively correlated to body weight. In conclusion, the study confirmed a broad geographical distribution of Leptospira in small mammals and suggested an important public health relevance of common and field voles as reservoirs of L. kirschneri. Furthermore, the investigations identified seasonal, habitat-related, as well as individual influences on Leptospira prevalence in small mammals that might impact public health.
KW  - demography
KW  - Germany
KW  - habitat
KW  - Leptospira spp
KW  - leptospirosis
KW  - MLST
KW  - rodent
KW  - shrew
KW  - SLST
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2017.2140
SN  - 1530-3667
SN  - 1557-7759
VL  - 18
IS  - 4
SP  - 188
EP  - 199
PB  - Liebert
CY  - New Rochelle
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Hoffmann, Julia
A1  - Palme, Rupert
A1  - Eccard, Jana
T1  - Long-term dim light during nighttime changes activity patterns and space use in experimental small mammal populations
JF  - Environmental pollution
N2  - Artificial light at night (ALAN) is spreading worldwide and thereby is increasingly interfering with natural dark-light cycles. Meanwhile, effects of very low intensities of light pollution on animals have rarely been investigated. We explored the effects of low intensity ALAN over seven months in eight experimental bank vole (Myodes glareolus) populations in large grassland enclosures over winter and early breeding season, using LED garden lamps. initial populations consisted of eight individuals (32 animals per hectare) in enclosures with or without ALAN. We found that bank voles under ALAN experienced changes in daily activity patterns and space use behavior, measured by automated radio telemetry. There were no differences in survival and body mass, measured with live trapping, and none in levels of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites. Voles in the ALAN treatment showed higher activity at night during half moon, and had larger day ranges during new moon. Thus, even low levels of light pollution as experienced in remote areas or by sky glow can lead to changes in animal behavior and could have consequences for species interactions. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KW  - Myodes glareolus
KW  - Light pollution
KW  - Chronic stress
KW  - Survival success
KW  - Artificial light
KW  - LED
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.03.107
SN  - 0269-7491
SN  - 1873-6424
VL  - 238
SP  - 844
EP  - 851
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Oxford
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Scherer, Ulrike
A1  - Tiedemann, Ralph
A1  - Schlupp, Ingo
T1  - Male size, not female preferences influence female reproductive success in a poeciliid fish (Poecilia latipinna)
BT  - a combined behavioural/genetic approach
JF  - BMC Research Notes
N2  - Objective

We investigated the potential role of indirect benefits for female mate preferences in a highly promiscuous species of live-bearing fishes, the sailfin molly Poecilia latipinna using an integrative approach that combines methods from animal behavior, life-history evolution, and genetics. Males of this species solely contribute sperm for reproduction, and consequently females do not receive any direct benefits. Despite this, females typically show clear mate preferences. It has been suggested that females can increase their reproductive success through indirect benefits from choosing males of higher quality.

Results

Although preferences for large body size have been recorded as an honest signal for genetic quality, this particular study resulted in female preference being unaffected by male body size. Nonetheless, larger males did sire more offspring, but with no effect on offspring quality. This study presents a methodical innovation by combining preference testing with life history measurements—such as the determination of the dry weight of fish embryos—and paternity analyses on single fish embryos.
KW  - Fitness
KW  - Life history
KW  - Mate choice
KW  - Microsatellite analysis
KW  - Offspring weight
KW  - Paternity analysis
KW  - Sailfin molly
KW  - Sexual selection
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-018-3487-2
SN  - 1756-0500
VL  - 11
IS  - 364
SP  - 1
EP  - 5
PB  - Biomed Central
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Chen, Pan
A1  - Bornhorst, Julia
A1  - Aschner, Michael
T1  - Manganese metabolism in humans
JF  - Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark
N2  - Manganese (Mn) is an essential nutrient for intracellular activities; it functions as a cofactor for a variety of enzymes, including arginase, glutamine synthetase (GS), pyruvate carboxylase and Mn superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD). Through these metalloproteins, Mn plays critically important roles in development, digestion, reproduction, antioxidant defense, energy production, immune response and regulation of neuronal activities. Mn deficiency is rare. In contrast Mn poisoning may be encountered upon overexposure to this metal. Excessive Mn tends to accumulate in the liver, pancreas, bone, kidney and brain, with the latter being the major target of Mn intoxication. Hepatic cirrhosis, polycythemia, hypermanganesemia, dystonia and Parkinsonism-like symptoms have been reported in patients with Mn poisoning. In recent years, Mn has come to the forefront of environmental concerns due to its neurotoxicity. Molecular mechanisms of Mn toxicity include oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, protein misfolding, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, autophagy dysregulation, apoptosis, and disruption of other metal homeostasis. The mechanisms of Mn homeostasis are not fully understood. Here, we will address recent progress in Mn absorption, distribution and elimination across different tissues, as well as the intracellular regulation of Mn homeostasis in cells. We will conclude with recommendations for future research areas on Mn metabolism.
KW  - Manganese
KW  - Metal Metabolism
KW  - Homeostasis
KW  - Blood-Brain Barrier
KW  - Neurotoxicity
KW  - Transporters
KW  - Review
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.2741/4665
SN  - 1093-9946
SN  - 1093-4715
VL  - 23
IS  - 9
SP  - 1655
EP  - 1679
PB  - Frontiers in Bioscience INC
CY  - Irvine
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Fritz, Michael Andre
A1  - Rosa, Stefanie
A1  - Sicard, Adrien
T1  - Mechanisms Underlying the Environmentally Induced Plasticity of Leaf Morphology
JF  - Frontiers in genetics
N2  - The primary function of leaves is to provide an interface between plants and their environment for gas exchange, light exposure and thermoregulation. Leaves have, therefore a central contribution to plant fitness by allowing an efficient absorption of sunlight energy through photosynthesis to ensure an optimal growth. Their final geometry will result from a balance between the need to maximize energy uptake while minimizing the damage caused by environmental stresses. This intimate relationship between leaf and its surroundings has led to an enormous diversification in leaf forms. Leaf shape varies between species, populations, individuals or even within identical genotypes when those are subjected to different environmental conditions. For instance, the extent of leaf margin dissection has, for long, been found to inversely correlate with the mean annual temperature, such that Paleobotanists have used models based on leaf shape to predict the paleoclimate from fossil flora. Leaf growth is not only dependent on temperature but is also regulated by many other environmental factors such as light quality and intensity or ambient humidity. This raises the question of how the different signals can be integrated at the molecular level and converted into clear developmental decisions. Several recent studies have started to shed the light on the molecular mechanisms that connect the environmental sensing with organ-growth and patterning. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge on the influence of different environmental signals on leaf size and shape, their integration as well as their importance for plant adaptation.
KW  - plants
KW  - leaf morphology
KW  - environment
KW  - developmental plasticity
KW  - gene regulatory networks
KW  - sensory system
KW  - gene responsiveness
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2018.00478
SN  - 1664-8021
VL  - 9
PB  - Frontiers Research Foundation
CY  - Lausanne
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Koziel, Slawomir
A1  - Scheffler, Christiane
A1  - Tutkuviene, Janina
A1  - Jakimaviciene, Egle Marija
A1  - Mumm, Rebekka
A1  - Barbieri, Davide
A1  - Godina, Elena
A1  - El-Shabrawi, Mortada
A1  - Elhusseini, Mona
A1  - Musalek, Martin
A1  - Pruszkowska-Przybylska, Paulina
A1  - El Dash, Hanaa H.
A1  - Safar, Hebatalla Hassan
A1  - Lehmann, Andreas
A1  - Swanson, James
A1  - Bogin, Barry
A1  - Liu, Yuk-Chien
A1  - Groth, Detlef
A1  - Kirchengast, Sylvia
A1  - Siniarska, Anna
A1  - Nieczuja-Dwojacka, Joanna
A1  - Kralik, Miroslav
A1  - Satake, Takashi
A1  - Harc, Tomasz
A1  - Roelants, Mathieu
A1  - Hermanussen, Michael
T1  - Meeting Report: Growth and social environment
BT  - Proceedings of the 25th Aschauer Soiree, held at Krobielowice, Poland, November 18th 2017
JF  - Pediatric Endocrinology Reviews
N2  - Twenty-two scientists met at Krobielowice, Poland, to discuss the impact of the social environment, spatial proximity, migration, poverty, but also psychological factors such as body perception and satisfaction, and social stressors such as elite sports, and teenage pregnancies, on child and adolescent growth. The data analysis included linear mixed effects models with different random effects, Monte Carlo analyses, and network simulations. The work stressed the importance of the peer group, but also included historic material, some considerations about body proportions, and growth in chronic liver, and congenital heart disease.
KW  - Body height
KW  - Social environment
KW  - Strategic growth adjustment
KW  - Competitive growth
KW  - Community effects on growth
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.17458/per.vol15.2018.ksh.mr.GrowthSocialEnvironment
SN  - 1565-4753
VL  - 15
IS  - 4
SP  - 319
EP  - 329
PB  - Medical Media
CY  - Netanya
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Knoblauch, Christian
A1  - Beer, Christian
A1  - Liebner, Susanne
A1  - Grigoriev, Mikhail N.
A1  - Pfeiffer, Eva-Maria
T1  - Methane production as key to the greenhouse gas budget of thawing permafrost
JF  - Nature climate change
N2  - Permafrost thaw liberates frozen organic carbon, which is decomposed into carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). The release of these greenhouse gases (GHGs) forms a positive feedback to atmospheric CO2 and CH4 concentrations and accelerates climate change(1,2). Current studies report a minor importance of CH4 production in water-saturated (anoxic) permafrost soils(3-6) and a stronger permafrost carbon-climate feedback from drained (oxic) soils(1,7). Here we show through seven-year laboratory incubations that equal amounts of CO2 and CH4 are formed in thawing permafrost under anoxic conditions after stable CH4-producing microbial communities have established. Less permafrost carbon was mineralized under anoxic conditions but more CO2-carbon equivalents (CO2Ce) were formed than under oxic conditions when the higher global warming potential (GWP) of CH4 is taken into account(8). A model of organic carbon decomposition, calibrated with the observed decomposition data, predicts a higher loss of permafrost carbon under oxic conditions (113 +/- 58 g CO2-C kgC(-1) (kgC, kilograms of carbon)) by 2100, but a twice as high production of CO2-Ce (241 +/- 138 g CO2-Ce kgC(-1)) under anoxic conditions. These findings challenge the view of a stronger permafrost carbon-climate feedback from drained soils1,7 and emphasize the importance of CH4 production in thawing permafrost on climate-relevant timescales.
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0095-z
SN  - 1758-678X
SN  - 1758-6798
VL  - 8
IS  - 4
SP  - 309
EP  - 312
PB  - Nature Publ. Group
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Batista, A. M. M.
A1  - Woodhouse, Jason Nicholas
A1  - Grossart, Hans-Peter
A1  - Giani, A.
T1  - Methanogenic archaea associated to Microcystis sp. in field samples and in culture
JF  - Hydrobiologia : acta hydrobiologica, hydrographica, limnologica et protistologica
N2  - Cyanobacterial mass developments impact the community composition of heterotrophic microorganisms with far-reaching consequences for biogeochemical and energy cycles of freshwater ecosystems including reservoirs. Here we sought to evaluate the temporal stability of methanogenic archaea in the water column and further scrutinize their associations with cyanobacteria. Monthly samples were collected from October 2009 to December 2010 in hypereutrophic Pampulha reservoir with permanently blooming cyanobacteria, and from January to December 2011 in oligotrophic Volta Grande reservoir with only sporadic cyanobacteria incidence. The presence of archaea in cyanobacterial cultures was investigated by screening numerous strains of Microcystis spp. from these reservoirs as well as from lakes in Europe, Asia, and North-America. We consistently determined the occurrence of archaea, in particular methanogenic archaea, in both reservoirs throughout the year. However, archaea were only associated with two strains (Microcystis sp. UFMG 165 and UFMG 175) recently isolated from these reservoirs. These findings do not implicate archaea in the occurrence of methane in the epilimnion of inland waters, but rather serve to highlight the potential of microhabitats associated with particles, including phytoplankton, to shelter unique microbial communities.
KW  - Cyanobacteria
KW  - Methanogenic archaea
KW  - Bacterial community composition
KW  - Microcystis sp
KW  - Tropical reservoir
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-3655-3
SN  - 0018-8158
SN  - 1573-5117
VL  - 831
IS  - 1
SP  - 163
EP  - 172
PB  - Springer
CY  - Dordrecht
ER  - 
TY  - THES
A1  - Bolius, Sarah
T1  - Microbial invasions in aquatic systems – strain identity, genetic diversity and timing
N2  - Biological invasions are the dispersal and following establishment of species outside their native habitat. Due to globalisation, connectivity of regions and climate changes the number of invasive species and their successful establishment is rising. The impact of these species is mostly negative, can induce community and habitat alterations, and is one main cause for biodiversity loss. This impact is particularly high and less researched in aquatic systems and microbial organisms and despite the high impact, the knowledge about overall mechanisms and specific factors affecting invasions are not fully understood. In general, the characteristics of the habitat, native community and invader determine the invasiveness. 
In this thesis, I aimed to provide a better understanding of aquatic invasions focusing on the invader and its traits and identity. This thesis used a set of 12 strains of the invasive cyanobacterium <i>Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii</i> to examine the effect and impact of the invaders’ identity and genetic diversity. Further, the effect of timing on the invasion potential and success was determined, because aquatic systems in particular undergo seasonal fluctuations. 	
Most studies revealed a higher invasion success with increasing genetic diversity. Here, the increase of the genetic diversity, by either strain richness or phylogenetic dissimilarity, is not firstly driving the invasion, but the strain-identity. The high variability among the strains in traits important for invasions led to the highly varying strain-specific invasion success. This success was most dependent on nitrogen uptake and efficient resource use. The lower invasion success into communities comprising further N-fixing species indicates <i>C. raciborskii</i> can use this advantage only without the presence of competitive species. The relief of grazing pressure, which is suggested to be more important in aquatic invasions, was only promoting the invasion when unselective and larger consumers were present. High abundances of unselective consumers hampered the invasion success. 	
This indicates a more complex and temporal interplay of competitive and consumptive resistance mechanisms during the invasion process. Further, the fluctuation abundance and presence of competitors (= primary producers) and consumers (= zooplankton) in lakes can open certain ‘invasion windows’. 	
Remarkably, the composition of the resident community was also strain-specific affected and altered, independent of a high or low invasion success. Prior, this was only documented on the species level. Further, investigations on the population of invasive strains can reveal more about the invasion patterns and how multiple strain invasions change resident communities. 	
The present dissertation emphasises the importance of invader-addition experiments with a community context and the importance of the strain-level for microbial invasions and in general, e.g. for community assemblies and the outcome of experiments. The strain-specific community changes, also after days, may explain some sudden changes in communities, which have not been explained yet. This and further knowledge may also facilitate earlier and less cost-intensive management to step in, because these species are rarely tracked until they reach a high abundance or bloom, because of their small size. 
Concluded for <i>C. raciborskii</i>, it shows that this species is no ‘generalistic’ invader and its invasion success depends more on the competitor presence than grazing pressure. This may explain its, still unknown, invasion pattern, as <i>C. raciborskii</i> is not found in all lakes of a region.
N2  - Biologische Invasionen beschreiben die Ausbreitung und Etablierung von Arten außerhalb ihres natürlichen Verbreitungsgebiets. Das Eindringen dieser invasiven Arten in ein neues Ökosystem hat meist negative Auswirkungen. Beispiele sind unter anderem veränderte Ökosystemprozesse, Lebensräume und Zusammensetzungen der einheimischen Arten, die zu einem Verlust der biologischen Vielfalt führen. Durch die fortschreitende Globalisierung und den Klimawandel steigt die Anzahl invasiver Arten weltweit. Um dies möglichst zu verhindern, müssen die zugrundeliegenden Mechanismen und Faktoren verstanden sein. Besonders bei aquatischen Mikroorganismen ist die Wissenslücke dabei groß und umso drängender, da diese Arten ein hohes Invasionspotential und potentiell stärkere negative Auswirkungen haben. 	
Die vorliegende Dissertation untersuchte anhand der invasiven Cyanobakterie <i>Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii</i>, den anfänglichen Invasionsprozess, unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Stamm-Identität, der genetischen Diversität und des Zeitpunkts der Invasion. 
Die meisten Studien zu Invasionen zeigen einen positiven Effekt der genetischen Diversität auf Invasionen. Diese Arbeit konnte zeigen, dass der Invasionserfolg auf bestimmte Stamm-spezifische Eigenschaften zurückzuführen ist. Für <i>C. raciborskii</i> war dies eine erhöhte Aufnahme von Stickstoff und eine effizientere Nutzung von Ressourcen. Wie einige andere aquatischen Arten hat <i>C. raciborskii</i> die Fähigkeit über differenzierte Zellen Stickstoff aus der Luft zu fixieren. Des Weiteren fördern bestimmte Umweltbedingungen, wie eine niedrige Nährstoffkonzentration, das Wachstum von <i>C. raciborskii</i>.	
Fraßdruck wirkte sich nur negativ aus, wenn unselektive Prädatoren anwesend waren. Zudem zeigten weitere Versuche, dass ihr Konkurrenzvorteil nur in Gemeinschaften ohne weitere Stickstoff-Fixierer und in Stickstoff-reduzierten Habitaten die Etablierung positiv beeinflusst.
Diese Erkenntnisse lassen darauf schließen, dass diverse Eigenschaften und eine zeitliche Abfolge dieser, den Invasionserfolg beeinflussen. Dieser kann einerseits durch den Widerstand der heimischen Arten-Gemeinschaft und zum anderem durch die herrschenden abiotischen Bedingungen verhindert werden. Gerade aquatische Systeme unterlaufen saisonalen Schwankungen und diese erlauben somit bestimmte, temporäre Invasionsmöglichkeiten. Zusätzlich führte die Stamm-Identität zu Änderungen in der einheimischen Artenzusammensetzung, unabhängig vom Erfolg der Invasion - dies wurde bis jetzt nur Art-spezifisch gezeigt. 	
Damit betont die vorliegende Arbeit die Bedeutung von Stamm-Identitäten auf Invasionen und deren Auswirkungen auf ökologische Prozesse und den Ausgang von Experimenten. Zusammengefasst für <i>C. raciborskii</i> zeigt die Arbeit, dass diese Art keine ‚generell‘ erfolgreiche invasive Art ist und dass der Invasionserfolg eher von den vorhanden konkurrierenden Arten abhängt. Dies könnte das noch unklare Ausbreitungs-Muster erklären.
KW  - invasion
KW  - cyanobacteria
KW  - population
KW  - Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii
Y1  - 2018
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schuurmans, Jasper Merijn
A1  - Brinkmann, Bregje W.
A1  - Makower, Katharina
A1  - Dittmann, Elke
A1  - Huisman, Jef
A1  - Matthijs, Hans C. P.
T1  - Microcystin interferes with defense against high oxidative stress in harmful cyanobacteria
JF  - Harmful algae
N2  - Harmful cyanobacteria producing toxic microcystins are a major concern in water quality management. In recent years, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been successfully applied to suppress cyanobacterial blooms in lakes. Physiological studies, however, indicate that microcystin protects cyanobacteria against oxidative stress, suggesting that H2O2 addition might provide a selective advantage for microcystin-producing (toxic) strains. This study compares the response of a toxic Microcystis strain, its non-toxic mutant, and a naturally non-toxic Microcystis strain to H2O2 addition representative of lake treatments. All three strains initially ceased growth upon H2O2 addition. Contrary to expectation, the non-toxic strain and non-toxic mutant rapidly degraded the added H2O2 and subsequently recovered, whereas the toxic strain did not degrade H2O2 and did not recover. Experimental catalase addition enabled recovery of the toxic strain, demonstrating that rapid H2O2 degradation is indeed essential for cyanobacterial survival. Interestingly, prior to H2O2  addition, gene expression of a thioredoxin and peroxiredoxin was much lower in the toxic strain than in its non-toxic mutant. Thioredoxin and peroxiredoxin are both involved in H2O2 degradation, and microcystin may potentially suppress their activity. These results show that microcystin-producing strains are less prepared for high levels of oxidative stress, and are therefore hit harder by H2O2 addition than non-toxic strains.
KW  - Cyanobacteria
KW  - Harmful algal blooms
KW  - Microcystins
KW  - Hydrogen peroxide
KW  - Microarrays
KW  - Microcystis aeruginosa
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2018.07.008
SN  - 1568-9883
SN  - 1878-1470
VL  - 78
SP  - 47
EP  - 55
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Arias-Andres, Maria
A1  - Kluemper, Uli
A1  - Rojas-Jimenez, Keilor
A1  - Grossart, Hans-Peter
T1  - Microplastic pollution increases gene exchange in aquatic ecosystems
JF  - Environmental pollution
N2  - Pollution by microplastics in aquatic ecosystems is accumulating at an unprecedented scale, emerging as a new surface for biofilm formation and gene exchange. In this study, we determined the permissiveness of aquatic bacteria towards a model antibiotic resistance plasmid, comparing communities that form biofilms on microplastics vs. those that are free-living. We used an exogenous and red-fluorescent E. coli donor strain to introduce the green-fluorescent broad-host-range plasmid pKJKS which encodes for trimethoprim resistance. We demonstrate an increased frequency of plasmid transfer in bacteria associated with microplastics compared to bacteria that are free-living or in natural aggregates. Moreover, comparison of communities grown on polycarbonate filters showed that increased gene exchange occurs in a broad range of phylogenetically-diverse bacteria. Our results indicate horizontal gene transfer in this habitat could distinctly affect the ecology of aquatic microbial communities on a global scale. The spread of antibiotic resistance through microplastics could also have profound consequences for the evolution of aquatic bacteria and poses a neglected hazard for human health.
KW  - Microplastics
KW  - Aquatic ecosystems
KW  - Biofilm
KW  - Horizontal gene transfer
KW  - Antibiotic resistance
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.02.058
SN  - 0269-7491
SN  - 1873-6424
VL  - 237
SP  - 253
EP  - 261
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Oxford
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Arias Andrés, María de Jesús
A1  - Kettner, Marie Therese
A1  - Miki, Takeshi
A1  - Grossart, Hans-Peter
T1  - Microplastics: New substrates for heterotrophic activity contribute to altering organic matter cycles in aquatic ecosystems
JF  - The science of the total environment : an international journal for scientific research into the environment and its relationship with man
N2  - Heterotrophic microbes with the capability to process considerable amounts of organic matter can colonize microplastic particles (MP) in aquatic ecosystems. Weather colonization of microorganisms on MP will alter ecological niche and functioning of microbial communities remains still unanswered. Therefore, we compared the functional diversity of biofilms on microplastics when incubated in three lakes in northeastern Germany differing in trophy and limnological features. For all lakes, we compared heterotrophic activities of MP biofilms with those of microorganisms in the surrounding water by using Biolog (R) EcoPlates and assessed their oxygen consumption in microcosm assays with and without MP. The present study found that the total biofilm biomass was higher in the oligo-mesotrophic and dystrophic lakes than in the eutrophic lake. In all lakes, functional diversity profiles of MP biofilms consistently differed from those in the surrounding water. However, solely in the oligo-mesotrophic lake MP biofilms had a higher functional richness compared to the ambient water. These results demonstrate that the functionality and hence the ecological role of MP-associated microbial communities are context-dependent, i.e. different environments lead to substantial changes in biomass build up and heterotrophic activities of MP biofilms. We propose that MP surfaces act as new niches for aquatic microorganisms and that the constantly increasing MP pollution has the potential to globally impact carbon dynamics of pelagic environments by altering heterotrophic activities. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
KW  - Microplastics
KW  - Microorganisms
KW  - Biofilms
KW  - Total biomass
KW  - Heterotrophic activity
KW  - Functional diversity
KW  - Multi-functionality index
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.199
SN  - 0048-9697
SN  - 1879-1026
VL  - 635
SP  - 1152
EP  - 1159
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Mühlenbruch, Marco
A1  - Grossart, Hans-Peter
A1  - Eigemann, Falk
A1  - Voss, Maren
T1  - Mini-review: Phytoplankton-derived polysaccharides in the marine environment and their interactions with heterotrophic bacteria
JF  - Environmental microbiology
N2  - Within the wealth of molecules constituting marine dissolved organic matter, carbohydrates make up the largest coherent and quantifiable fraction. Their main sources are from primary producers, which release large amounts of photosynthetic products – mainly polysaccharides – directly into the surrounding water via passive and active exudation. The organic carbon and other nutrients derived from these photosynthates enrich the ‘phycosphere’ and attract heterotrophic bacteria. The rapid uptake and remineralization of dissolved free monosaccharides by heterotrophic bacteria account for the barely detectable levels of these compounds. By contrast, dissolved combined polysaccharides can reach high concentrations, especially during phytoplankton blooms. Polysaccharides are too large to be taken up directly by heterotrophic bacteria, instead requiring hydrolytic cleavage to smaller oligo- or monomers by bacteria with a suitable set of exoenzymes. The release of diverse polysaccharides by various phytoplankton taxa is generally interpreted as the deposition of excess organic material. However, these molecules likely also fulfil distinct, yet not fully understood functions, as inferred from their active modulation in terms of quality and quantity when phytoplankton becomes nutrient limited or is exposed to heterotrophic bacteria. This minireview summarizes current knowledge regarding the exudation and composition of phytoplankton-derived exopolysaccharides and acquisition of these compounds by heterotrophic bacteria.
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.14302
SN  - 1462-2912
SN  - 1462-2920
VL  - 20
IS  - 8
SP  - 2671
EP  - 2685
PB  - Wiley
CY  - Hoboken
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Quiterio, Ana
A1  - Martins, Joao
A1  - Onofre, Marcos
A1  - Costa, Joao
A1  - Rodrigues, Joao Mota
A1  - Gerlach, Erin
A1  - Scheur, Claude
A1  - Herrmann, Christian
T1  - MOBAK 1 assessment in primary physical education
BT  - exploring basic motor competences of portuguese 6-Year-Olds
JF  - Perceptual & motor skills
N2  - Children’s motor competence is known to have a determinant role in learning and engaging later in complex motor skills and, thus, in physical activity. The development of adequate motor competence is a central aim of physical education, and assuring that pupils are learning and developing motor competence depends on accurate assessment protocols. The MOBAK 1 test battery is a recent instrument developed to assess motor competence in primary physical education. This study used the MOBAK 1 to explore motor competence levels and gender differences among 249 (Mage = 6.3, SD = 0.5 years; 127 girls and 122 boys) Grade 1 primary school Portuguese children. On independent sample t tests, boys presented higher object movement motor competence than girls (boys: M = 5.8, SD = 1.7; girls: M = 4.0, SD = 1.7; p < .001), while girls were more proficient among self-movement skills (girls: M = 5.1, SD = 1.8; boys: M = 4.3, SD = 1.7; p < .01). On “total motor competence,” boys (M = 10.3, SD = 2.6) averaged one point ahead of girls (M = 9.1, SD = 2.9). The percentage of girls in the first quartile of object movement was 18.9%, while, for “self movement,” the percentage of boys in the first quartile was almost double that of girls (30.3% and 17.3%, respectively). The confirmatory model to test for construct validity confirmed the assumed theoretical two-factor structure of MOBAK 1 test items in this Portuguese sample. These results support the MOBAK 1 instrument for assessing motor competence and highlighted gender differences, of relevance to intervention efforts.
KW  - physical education
KW  - MOBAK 1
KW  - instrument
KW  - assessment
KW  - motor competence
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1177/0031512518804358
SN  - 0031-5125
SN  - 1558-688X
VL  - 125
IS  - 6
SP  - 1055
EP  - 1069
PB  - Sage Publ.
CY  - Thousand Oaks
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Garcia, Sarahi L.
A1  - Buck, Moritz
A1  - Hamilton, Joshua J.
A1  - Wurzbacher, Christian
A1  - Grossart, Hans-Peter
A1  - McMahon, Katherine D.
A1  - Eiler, Alexander
T1  - Model communities hint at promiscuous metabolic linkages between ubiquitous free-living freshwater bacteria
JF  - mSphere
N2  - Genome streamlining is frequently observed in free-living aquatic microorganisms and results in physiological dependencies between microorganisms. However, we know little about the specificity of these microbial associations. In order to examine the specificity and extent of these associations, we established mixed cultures from three different freshwater environments and analyzed the cooccurrence of organisms using a metagenomic time series. Free-living microorganisms with streamlined genomes lacking multiple biosynthetic pathways showed no clear recurring pattern in their interaction partners. Free-living freshwater bacteria form promiscuous cooperative associations. This notion contrasts with the well-documented high specificities of interaction partners in host-associated bacteria. Considering all data together, we suggest that highly abundant free-living bacterial lineages are functionally versatile in their interactions despite their distinct streamlining tendencies at the single-cell level. This metabolic versatility facilitates interactions with a variable set of community members.
KW  - community
KW  - interactions
KW  - metagenomics
KW  - microbial ecology
KW  - mixed cultures
KW  - promiscuous
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1128/mSphere.00202-18
SN  - 2379-5042
VL  - 3
IS  - 3
PB  - American Society for Microbiology
CY  - Washington
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kaufmann, Hans Paul
A1  - Duffus, Benjamin R.
A1  - Mitrova, Biljana
A1  - Iobbi-Nivol, Chantal
A1  - Teutloff, Christian
A1  - Nimtz, Manfred
A1  - Jaensch, Lothar
A1  - Wollenberger, Ulla
A1  - Leimkühler, Silke
T1  - Modulating the Molybdenum Coordination Sphere of Escherichia coli Trimethylamie N-Oxide Reductase
JF  - Biochemistry
N2  - The well-studied enterobacterium Escherichia coli present in the human gut can reduce trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) to trimethylamine during anaerobic respiration. The TMAO reductase TorA is a monomeric, bis-molybdopterin guanine dinucleotide (bis-MGD) cofactor-containing enzyme that belongs to the dimethyl sulfoxide reductase family of molybdoenzymes. We report on a system for the in vitro reconstitution of TorA with molybdenum cofactors (Moco) from different sources. Higher TMAO reductase activities for TorA were obtained when using Moco sources containing a sulfido ligand at the molybdenum atom. For the first time, we were able to isolate functional bis-MGD from Rhodobacter capsulatus formate dehydrogenase (FDH), which remained intact in its isolated state and after insertion into apo-TorA yielded a highly active enzyme. Combined characterizations of the reconstituted TorA enzymes by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and direct electrochemistry emphasize that TorA activity can be modified by changes in the Mo coordination sphere. The combination of these results together with studies of amino acid exchanges at the active site led us to propose a novel model for binding of the substrate to the molybdenum atom of TorA.
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biochem.7b01108
SN  - 0006-2960
VL  - 57
IS  - 7
SP  - 1130
EP  - 1143
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington
ER  - 
TY  - THES
A1  - Lawas, Lovely Mae F.
T1  - Molecular characterization of rice exposed to heat and drought stress at flowering and early grain filling
Y1  - 2018
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Jetzschmann, Katharina J.
A1  - Yarman, Aysu
A1  - Rustam, L.
A1  - Kielb, P.
A1  - Urlacher, V. B.
A1  - Fischer, A.
A1  - Weidinger, I. M.
A1  - Wollenberger, Ulla
A1  - Scheller, Frieder W.
T1  - Molecular LEGO by domain-imprinting of cytochrome P450 BM3
JF  - Colloids and surfaces : an international journal devoted to fundamental and applied research on colloid and interfacial phenomena in relation to systems of biological origin ; B, Biointerfaces
N2  - Hypothesis: Electrosynthesis of the MIP nano-film after binding of the separated domains or holocytochrome BM3 via an engineered anchor should result in domain-specific cavities in the polymer layer. Experiments: Both the two domains and the holo P450 BM3 have been bound prior polymer deposition via a N-terminal engineered his6-anchor to the electrode surface. Each step of MIP preparation was characterized by cyclic voltammetry of the redox-marker ferricyanide. Rebinding after template removal was evaluated by quantifying the suppression of the diffusive permeability of the signal for ferricyanide and by the NADH-dependent reduction of cytochrome c by the reductase domain (BMR). Findings: The working hypothesis is verified by the discrimination of the two domains by the respective MIPs: The holoenzyme P450 BM3 was ca. 5.5 times more effectively recognized by the film imprinted with the oxidase domain (BMO) as compared to the BMR-MIP or the non-imprinted polymer (NIP). Obviously, a cavity is formed during the imprinting process around the hiss-tag-anchored BMR which cannot accommodate the broader BMO or the P450 BM3. The affinity of the MIP towards P450 BM3 is comparable with that to the monomer in solution. The hiss-tagged P450 BM3 binds (30 percent) stronger which shows the additive effect of the interaction with the MIP and the binding to the electrode.
KW  - Molecularly imprinted polymers
KW  - Protein imprinting
KW  - Electropolymerization
KW  - Cytochrome P450
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.01.047
SN  - 0927-7765
SN  - 1873-4367
VL  - 164
SP  - 240
EP  - 246
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  - 
TY  - GEN
A1  - Rud, R.
A1  - Käthner, Jana
A1  - Giesser, J.
A1  - Pasche, R.
A1  - Giebel, Antje
A1  - Selbeck, Jörn
A1  - Shenderey, C.
A1  - Fleury, D.
A1  - Zude, Manuela
A1  - Alchanatis, Victor
T1  - Monitoring spatial variability in an apple orchard under different water regimes
T2  - International Symposium on Sensing Plant Water Status - Methods and Applications in Horticultural Science
N2  - Precision fruticulture addresses site or tree-adapted crop management. In the present study, soil and tree status, as well as fruit quality at harvest were analysed in a commercial apple (Malus × domestica 'Gala Brookfield'/Pajam1) orchard in a temperate climate. Trees were irrigated in addition to precipitation. Three irrigation levels (0, 50 and 100%) were applied. Measurements included readings of apparent electrical conductivity of soil (ECa), stem water potential, canopy temperature obtained by infrared camera, and canopy volume estimated by LiDAR and RGB colour imaging. Laboratory analyses of 6 trees per treatment were done on fruit considering the pigment contents and quality parameters. Midday stem water potential (SWP), normalized crop water stress index (CWSI) calculated from thermal data, and fruit yield and quality at harvest were analysed. Spatial patterns of the variability of tree water status were estimated by CWSI imaging supported by SWP readings. CWSI ranged from 0.1 to 0.7 indicating high variability due to irrigation and precipitation. Canopy volume data were less variable. Soil ECa appeared homogeneous in the range of 0 to 4 mS m-1. Fruit harvested in a drought stress zone showed enhanced portion of pheophytin in the chlorophyll pool. Irrigation affected soluble solids content and, hence, the quality of fruit. Overall, results highlighted that spatial variation in orchards can be found even if marginal variability of soil properties can be assumed.
KW  - apple
KW  - CWSI
KW  - precision agriculture
KW  - management zone
Y1  - 2018
SN  - 978-94-62611-93-1
U6  - https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1197.19
SN  - 0567-7572
SN  - 2406-6168
VL  - 1197
SP  - 139
EP  - 146
PB  - International Society for Horticultural Science
CY  - The Hague
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Tucker, Marlee A.
A1  - Boehning-Gaese, Katrin
A1  - Fagan, William F.
A1  - Fryxell, John M.
A1  - Van Moorter, Bram
A1  - Alberts, Susan C.
A1  - Ali, Abdullahi H.
A1  - Allen, Andrew M.
A1  - Attias, Nina
A1  - Avgar, Tal
A1  - Bartlam-Brooks, Hattie
A1  - Bayarbaatar, Buuveibaatar
A1  - Belant, Jerrold L.
A1  - Bertassoni, Alessandra
A1  - Beyer, Dean
A1  - Bidner, Laura
A1  - van Beest, Floris M.
A1  - Blake, Stephen
A1  - Blaum, Niels
A1  - Bracis, Chloe
A1  - Brown, Danielle
A1  - de Bruyn, P. J. Nico
A1  - Cagnacci, Francesca
A1  - Calabrese, Justin M.
A1  - Camilo-Alves, Constanca
A1  - Chamaille-Jammes, Simon
A1  - Chiaradia, Andre
A1  - Davidson, Sarah C.
A1  - Dennis, Todd
A1  - DeStefano, Stephen
A1  - Diefenbach, Duane
A1  - Douglas-Hamilton, Iain
A1  - Fennessy, Julian
A1  - Fichtel, Claudia
A1  - Fiedler, Wolfgang
A1  - Fischer, Christina
A1  - Fischhoff, Ilya
A1  - Fleming, Christen H.
A1  - Ford, Adam T.
A1  - Fritz, Susanne A.
A1  - Gehr, Benedikt
A1  - Goheen, Jacob R.
A1  - Gurarie, Eliezer
A1  - Hebblewhite, Mark
A1  - Heurich, Marco
A1  - Hewison, A. J. Mark
A1  - Hof, Christian
A1  - Hurme, Edward
A1  - Isbell, Lynne A.
A1  - Janssen, Rene
A1  - Jeltsch, Florian
A1  - Kaczensky, Petra
A1  - Kane, Adam
A1  - Kappeler, Peter M.
A1  - Kauffman, Matthew
A1  - Kays, Roland
A1  - Kimuyu, Duncan
A1  - Koch, Flavia
A1  - Kranstauber, Bart
A1  - LaPoint, Scott
A1  - Leimgruber, Peter
A1  - Linnell, John D. C.
A1  - Lopez-Lopez, Pascual
A1  - Markham, A. Catherine
A1  - Mattisson, Jenny
A1  - Medici, Emilia Patricia
A1  - Mellone, Ugo
A1  - Merrill, Evelyn
A1  - Mourao, Guilherme de Miranda
A1  - Morato, Ronaldo G.
A1  - Morellet, Nicolas
A1  - Morrison, Thomas A.
A1  - Diaz-Munoz, Samuel L.
A1  - Mysterud, Atle
A1  - Nandintsetseg, Dejid
A1  - Nathan, Ran
A1  - Niamir, Aidin
A1  - Odden, John
A1  - Oliveira-Santos, Luiz Gustavo R.
A1  - Olson, Kirk A.
A1  - Patterson, Bruce D.
A1  - de Paula, Rogerio Cunha
A1  - Pedrotti, Luca
A1  - Reineking, Bjorn
A1  - Rimmler, Martin
A1  - Rogers, Tracey L.
A1  - Rolandsen, Christer Moe
A1  - Rosenberry, Christopher S.
A1  - Rubenstein, Daniel I.
A1  - Safi, Kamran
A1  - Said, Sonia
A1  - Sapir, Nir
A1  - Sawyer, Hall
A1  - Schmidt, Niels Martin
A1  - Selva, Nuria
A1  - Sergiel, Agnieszka
A1  - Shiilegdamba, Enkhtuvshin
A1  - Silva, Joao Paulo
A1  - Singh, Navinder
A1  - Solberg, Erling J.
A1  - Spiegel, Orr
A1  - Strand, Olav
A1  - Sundaresan, Siva
A1  - Ullmann, Wiebke
A1  - Voigt, Ulrich
A1  - Wall, Jake
A1  - Wattles, David
A1  - Wikelski, Martin
A1  - Wilmers, Christopher C.
A1  - Wilson, John W.
A1  - Wittemyer, George
A1  - Zieba, Filip
A1  - Zwijacz-Kozica, Tomasz
A1  - Mueller, Thomas
T1  - Moving in the Anthropocene
BT  - global reductions in terrestrial mammalian movements
JF  - Science
N2  - Animal movement is fundamental for ecosystem functioning and species survival, yet the effects of the anthropogenic footprint on animal movements have not been estimated across species. Using a unique GPS-tracking database of 803 individuals across 57 species, we found that movements of mammals in areas with a comparatively high human footprint were on average one-half to one-third the extent of their movements in areas with a low human footprint. We attribute this reduction to behavioral changes of individual animals and to the exclusion of species with long-range movements from areas with higher human impact. Global loss of vagility alters a key ecological trait of animals that affects not only population persistence but also ecosystem processes such as predator-prey interactions, nutrient cycling, and disease transmission.
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aam9712
SN  - 0036-8075
SN  - 1095-9203
VL  - 359
IS  - 6374
SP  - 466
EP  - 469
PB  - American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science
CY  - Washington
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Sustr, David
A1  - Hlaváček, Antonín
A1  - Duschl, Claus
A1  - Volodkin, Dmitry
T1  - Multi-fractional analysis of molecular diffusion in polymer multilayers by FRAP
BT  - a new simulation-based approach
JF  - The journal of physical chemistry :   B, Condensed matter, materials, surfaces, interfaces & biophysical
N2  - Comprehensive analysis of the multifractional molecular diffusion provides a deeper understanding of the diffusion phenomenon in the fields of material science, molecular and cell biology, advanced biomaterials, etc. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is commonly employed to probe the molecular diffusion. Despite FRAP being a very popular method, it is not easy to assess multifractional molecular diffusion due to limited possibilities of approaches for analysis. Here we present a novel simulation-optimization-based approach (S-approach) that significantly broadens possibilities of the analysis. In the S-approach, possible fluorescence recovery scenarios are primarily simulated and afterward compared with a real measurement while optimizing parameters of a model until a sufficient match is achieved. This makes it possible to reveal multifractional molecular diffusion. Fluorescent latex particles of different size and fluorescein isothiocyanate in an aqueous medium were utilized as test systems. Finally, the S-approach has been used to evaluate diffusion of cytochrome c loaded into multilayers made of hyaluronan and polylysine. Software for evaluation of multifractional molecular diffusion by S-approach has been developed aiming to offer maximal versatility and user-friendly way for analysis.
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b11051
SN  - 1520-6106
VL  - 122
IS  - 3
SP  - 1323
EP  - 1333
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Thorpe, Roger
A1  - Barlow, Axel
A1  - Surget-Groba, Yann
A1  - Malhotra, Anita
T1  - Multilocus phylogeny, species age and biogeography of the Lesser Antillean anoles
JF  - Molecular phylogenetics and evolution
N2  - Lesser Antillean anoles provide classic examples of island radiations. A detailed knowledge of their phylogeny and biogeography, in particular how the age of species relate to the ages of their respective islands and the age of their radiation, is essential to elucidate the tempo and mechanisms of these radiations. We conduct a large-scale phylogenetic and phylogeographic investigation of the Lesser Antillean anoles using multiple genetic markers and comprehensive geographic sampling of most species. The multilocus phylogeny gives the first well-supported reconstruction of the interspecific relationships, and the densely sampled phylogeography reveals a highly dynamic system, driven by overseas dispersal, with several alternative post-dispersal colonisation trajectories. These radiations currently occupy both the outer-older (Eocene to Miocene), and the inner-younger (< 8mybp), Lesser Antillean arcs. The origin of these radiations corresponds with the age of the ancient outer arc. However, the ages of extant species (compatible with the age of other small terrestrial amniotes) are much younger, about the age of the emergence of the younger arc, or less. The difference between the age of the radiation and the age of the extant species suggests substantial species turnover on older arc islands, most likely through competitive replacement. Although extant anoles are extremely speciose, this may represent only a fraction of their biodiversity over time. While paraphyly enables us to infer several recent colonization events, the absence of the younger arc islands and extant species at the earlier and middle stages of the radiation, does not allow the earlier inter-island colonization to be reliably inferred. Reproductive isolation in allopatry takes a very considerable time (in excess of 8my) and sympatry appears to occur only late in the radiation. The resolved multilocus phylogeny, and relative species age, raise difficulties for some earlier hypotheses regarding size evolution, and provide no evidence for within-island speciation.
KW  - Anolis
KW  - Multilocus phylogeny
KW  - Lesser antilles
KW  - Species age
KW  - Species turnover
KW  - Island colonization
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2018.06.014
SN  - 1055-7903
SN  - 1095-9513
VL  - 127
SP  - 682
EP  - 695
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - San Diego
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Dey, Pradip
A1  - Bergmann, Tobias
A1  - Cuellar-Camacho, Jose Luis
A1  - Ehrmann, Svenja
A1  - Chowdhury, Mohammad Suman
A1  - Zhang, Minze
A1  - Dahmani, Ismail
A1  - Haag, Rainer
A1  - Azad, Walid
T1  - Multivalent flexible nanogels exhibit broad-spectrum antiviral activity by blocking virus entry
JF  - ACS nano
N2  - The entry process of viruses into host cells is complex and involves stable but transient multivalent interactions with different cell surface receptors. The initial contact of several viruses begins with attachment to heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans on the cell surface, which results in a cascade of events that end up with virus entry. The development of antiviral agents based on multivalent interactions to shield virus particles and block initial interactions with cellular receptors has attracted attention in antiviral research. Here, we designed nanogels with different degrees of flexibility based on dendritic polyglycerol sulfate to mimic cellular HS. The designed nanogels are nontoxic and broad-spectrum, can multivalently interact with viral glycoproteins, shield virus surfaces, and efficiently block infection. We also visualized virus-nanogel interactions as well as the uptake of nanogels by the cells through clathrin-mediated endocytosis using confocal microscopy. As many human viruses attach to the cells through HS moieties, we introduce our flexible nanogels as robust inhibitors for these viruses.
KW  - multivalent
KW  - herpes simplex virus
KW  - heparan sulfate
KW  - nanoparticles
KW  - click chemistry
KW  - polyglycerol
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.8b01616
SN  - 1936-0851
SN  - 1936-086X
VL  - 12
IS  - 7
SP  - 6429
EP  - 6442
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Hu, Chenlin
A1  - Ludsin, Stuart A.
A1  - Martin, Jay F.
A1  - Dittmann, Elke
A1  - Lee, Jiyoung
T1  - Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs)-producing Microcystis in Lake Erie
BT  - Development of a qPCR assay and insight into its ecology
JF  - Harmful algae
N2  - Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are UV-absorbing metabolites found in cyanobacteria. While their protective role from UV in Microcystis has been studied in a laboratory setting, a full understanding of the ecology of MAA-producing versus non-MAA-producing Microcystis in natural environments is lacking. This study presents a new tool for quantifying MAA-producing Microcystis and applies it to obtain insight into the dynamics of MAA-producing and non-MAA-producing Microcystis in Lake Erie. This study first developed a sensitive, specific TaqMan real-time PCR assay that targets MAA synthetase gene C (mysC) of Microcystis (quantitative range: 1.7 × 101 to 1.7 × 107 copies/assay). Using this assay, Microcystis was quantified with a MAA-producing genotype (mysC+) in water samples (n = 96) collected during March-November 2013 from 21 Lake Erie sites (undetectable − 8.4 × 106 copies/ml). The mysC+ genotype comprised 0.3–37.8% of the Microcystis population in Lake Erie during the study period. The proportion of the mysC+ genotype during high solar UV irradiation periods (mean = 18.8%) was significantly higher than that during lower UV periods (mean = 9.7%). Among the MAAs, shinorine (major) and porphyra (minor) were detected with HPLC-PDA-MS/MS from the Microcystis isolates and water samples. However, no significant difference in the MAA concentrations existed between higher and lower solar UV periods when the MAA concentrations were normalized with Microcystis mysC abundance. Collectively, this study’s findings suggest that the MAA-producing Microcystis are present in Lake Erie, and they may be ecologically advantageous under high UV conditions, but not to the point that they exclusively predominate over the non-MAA-producers.
KW  - Shinorine
KW  - Porphyra
KW  - UV irradiation
KW  - Sunscreen
KW  - Eutrophication
KW  - Harmful algal bloom
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2018.05.010
SN  - 1568-9883
SN  - 1878-1470
VL  - 77
SP  - 1
EP  - 10
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kurze, Susanne
A1  - Heinken, Thilo
A1  - Fartmann, Thomas
T1  - Nitrogen enrichment in host plants increases the mortality of common Lepidoptera species
JF  - Oecologia
N2  - The recent decline of Lepidoptera species strongly correlates with the increasing intensification of agriculture in Western and Central Europe. However, the effects of changed host-plant quality through agricultural fertilization on this insect group remain largely unexplored. For this reason, we tested the response of six common butterfly and moth species to host-plant fertilization using fertilizer quantities usually applied in agriculture. The larvae of the study species Coenonympha pamphilus, Lycaena phlaeas, Lycaena tityrus, Pararge aegeria, Rivula sericealis and Timandra comae were distributed according to a split-brood design to three host-plant treatments comprising one control treatment without fertilization and two fertilization treatments with an input of 150 and 300kgNha(-1)year(-1), respectively. In L.tityrus, we used two additional fertilization treatments with an input of 30 and 90kgNha(-1)year(-1), respectively. Fertilization increased the nitrogen concentration of both host-plant species, Rumex acetosella and Poa pratensis, and decreased the survival of larvae in all six Lepidoptera species by at least one-third, without clear differences between sorrel- and grass-feeding species. The declining survival rate in all species contradicts the well-accepted nitrogen-limitation hypothesis, which predicts a positive response in species performance to dietary nitrogen content. In contrast, this study presents the first evidence that current fertilization quantities in agriculture exceed the physiological tolerance of common Lepidoptera species. Our results suggest that (1) the negative effect of plant fertilization on Lepidoptera has previously been underestimated and (2) that it contributes to the range-wide decline of Lepidoptera.
KW  - Agricultural fertilization
KW  - Global change
KW  - Host-plant quality
KW  - Nitrogen-limitation hypothesis
KW  - Rearing experiment
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-018-4266-4
SN  - 0029-8549
SN  - 1432-1939
VL  - 188
IS  - 4
SP  - 1227
EP  - 1237
PB  - Springer
CY  - New York
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Scheffler, Christiane
A1  - Kruetzfeldt, Louisa-Marie
A1  - Dasgupta, Parasmani
A1  - Hermanussen, Michael
T1  - No association between fat tissue and height in 5019 children and adolescents, measured between 1982 and 2011 in Kolkata/India
JF  - Journal of biological and clinical anthropology
JF  - Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft für Anthropologie
N2  - Body height has traditionally been looked upon as a mirror of the condition of society, short height being an indicator of poor nutritional status, poor education, and low social status and income. This view has recently been questioned. We aimed to quantify the effects of nutrition, education, sibship size, and household income, factors that are conventionally considered to be related to child growth, on body height of children and adolescents raised under urban Indian conditions. Sample and methods: We re-analyzed several anthropometric measurements and questionnaires with questions on sibship size, fathers’ and mother’s education, and monthly family expenditure, from two cross-sectional growth studies performed in Kolkata, India. The first Kolkata Growth Study (KG1) took place in 1982-1983, with data on 825 Bengali boys aged 7 to 16 years; and the second Kolkata Growth Study (KG2) between 1999 and 2011 with data of 1999 boys aged 7 to 21 years from Bengali Hindu families, and data of 2195 girls obtained between 2005 and 2011. Results: Indian children showed positive insignificant secular trends in height and a significant secular trend in weight and BMI between between 1982 and 2011. Yet, multiple regression analysis failed to detect an association between nutritional status (expressed in terms of skinfold thickness), monthly family expenditure and sibship size with body height of these children. The analysis only revealed an influence of parental education on female, but not on male height. Conclusion: We failed to detect influences of nutrition, sibship size, and monthly family expenditure on body height in a large sample of children and adolescents raised in Kolkata, India, between 1982 and 2011. We found a mild positive association between parental education and girls’ height. The data question current concepts regarding the impact of nutrition, and household and economic factors on growth, but instead underscore the effect of parental education.
KW  - body height
KW  - nutrition
KW  - social growth adjustment
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1127/anthranz/2018/0827
SN  - 0003-5548
VL  - 74
IS  - 5
SP  - 403
EP  - 411
PB  - Schweizerbart
CY  - Stuttgart
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ehrlich, Elias
A1  - Gaedke, Ursula
T1  - Not attackable or not crackable
BT  - How pre-and post-attack defenses with different competition costs affect prey coexistence and population dynamics
JF  - Ecology and Evolution
N2  - It is well-known that prey species often face trade-offs between defense against predation and competitiveness, enabling predator-mediated coexistence. However, we lack an understanding of how the large variety of different defense traits with different competition costs affects coexistence and population dynamics. Our study focusses on two general defense mechanisms, that is, pre-attack (e.g., camouflage)and post-attack defenses (e.g., weaponry) that act at different phases of the predator—prey interaction. We consider a food web model with one predator, two prey types and one resource. One prey type is undefended, while the other one is pre-or post-attack defended paying costs either by a higher half-saturation constant for resource uptake or a lower maximum growth rate. We show that post-attack defenses promote prey coexistence and stabilize the population dynamics more strongly than pre-attack defenses by interfering with the predator’s functional response: Because the predator spends time handling “noncrackable” prey, the undefended prey is indirectly
facilitated. A high half-saturation constant as defense costs promotes coexistence more and stabilizes the dynamics less than a low maximum growth rate. The former imposes high costs at low resource concentrations but allows for temporally high growth rates at predator-induced resource peaks preventing the extinction of
the defended prey. We evaluate the effects of the different defense mechanisms and costs on coexistence under different enrichment levels in order to vary the importance of bottom-up and top-down control of the prey community.
KW  - coexistence
KW  - competition–defense trade‐off
KW  - defense against predation
KW  - functional response
KW  - indirect facilitation
KW  - predator–prey cycles
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4145
SN  - 2045-7758
VL  - 8
IS  - 13
SP  - 6625
EP  - 6637
PB  - Wiley
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Hilgers, Leon
A1  - Hartmann, Stefanie
A1  - Hofreiter, Michael
A1  - von Rintelen, Thomas
T1  - Novel Genes, Ancient Genes, and Gene Co-Option Contributed o the Genetic Basis of the Radula, a Molluscan Innovation
JF  - Molecular biology and evolution
N2  - The radula is the central foraging organ and apomorphy of the Mollusca. However, in contrast to other innovations, including the mollusk shell, genetic underpinnings of radula formation remain virtually unknown. Here, we present the first radula formative tissue transcriptome using the viviparous freshwater snail Tylomelania sarasinorum and compare it to foot tissue and the shell-building mantle of the same species. We combine differential expression, functional enrichment, and phylostratigraphic analyses to identify both specific and shared genetic underpinnings of the three tissues as well as their dominant functions and evolutionary origins. Gene expression of radula formative tissue is very distinct, but nevertheless more similar to mantle than to foot. Generally, the genetic bases of both radula and shell formation were shaped by novel orchestration of preexisting genes and continuous evolution of novel genes. A significantly increased proportion of radula-specific genes originated since the origin of stem-mollusks, indicating that novel genes were especially important for radula evolution. Genes with radula-specific expression in our study are frequently also expressed during the formation of other lophotrochozoan hard structures, like chaetae (hes1, arx), spicules (gbx), and shells of mollusks (gbx, heph) and brachiopods (heph), suggesting gene co-option for hard structure formation. Finally, a Lophotrochozoa-specific chitin synthase with a myosin motor domain (CS-MD), which is expressed during mollusk and brachiopod shell formation, had radula-specific expression in our study. CS-MD potentially facilitated the construction of complex chitinous structures and points at the potential of molecular novelties to promote the evolution of different morphological innovations.
KW  - chitin synthase
KW  - novelty
KW  - radula
KW  - RNAseq
KW  - shell
KW  - Tylomelania sarasinorum
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msy052
SN  - 0737-4038
SN  - 1537-1719
VL  - 35
IS  - 7
SP  - 1638
EP  - 1652
PB  - Oxford Univ. Press
CY  - Oxford
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schibalski, Anett
A1  - Körner, Katrin
A1  - Maier, Martin
A1  - Jeltsch, Florian
A1  - Schröder, Boris
T1  - Novel model coupling approach for resilience analysis of coastal plant communities
JF  - Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America
N2  - Resilience is a major research focus covering a wide range of topics from biodiversity conservation to ecosystem (service) management. Model simulations can assess the resilience of, for example, plant species, measured as the return time to conditions prior to a disturbance. This requires process-based models (PBM) that implement relevant processes such as regeneration and reproduction and thus successfully reproduce transient dynamics after disturbances. Such models are often complex and thus limited to either short-term or small-scale applications, whereas many research questions require species predictions across larger spatial and temporal scales. We suggest a framework to couple a PBM and a statistical species distribution model (SDM), which transfers the results of a resilience analysis by the PBM to SDM predictions. The resulting hybrid model combines the advantages of both approaches: the convenient applicability of SDMs and the relevant process detail of PBMs in abrupt environmental change situations. First, we simulate dynamic responses of species communities to a disturbance event with a PBM. We aggregate the response behavior in two resilience metrics: return time and amplitude of the response peak. These metrics are then used to complement long-term SDM projections with dynamic short-term responses to disturbance. To illustrate our framework, we investigate the effect of abrupt short-term groundwater level and salinity changes on coastal vegetation at the German Baltic Sea. We found two example species to be largely resilient, and, consequently, modifications of SDM predictions consisted mostly of smoothing out peaks in the occurrence probability that were not confirmed by the PBM. Discrepancies between SDM- and PBM-predicted species responses were caused by community dynamics simulated in the PBM and absent from the SDM. Although demonstrated with boosted regression trees (SDM) and an existing individual-based model, IBC-grass (PBM), our flexible framework can easily be applied to other PBM and SDM types, as well as other definitions of short-term disturbances or long-term trends of environmental change. Thus, our framework allows accounting for biological feedbacks in the response to short- and long-term environmental changes as a major advancement in predictive vegetation modeling.
KW  - Baltic Sea
KW  - hybrid model
KW  - Lolium perenne
KW  - model coupling
KW  - Scirpus maritimus
KW  - transient dynamics
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1758
SN  - 1051-0761
SN  - 1939-5582
VL  - 28
IS  - 6
SP  - 1640
EP  - 1654
PB  - Wiley
CY  - Hoboken
ER  -