Differential Susceptibility Research Articles

Longitudinal trajectories of maternal depression are associated with maternal and child problematic media use.

This study uses a family systems and differential susceptibility framework to examine the association between postpartum media ecosystems, trajectories of maternal depression, and problematic media use in mothers and children (N = 501) in the United Sates over a 5-year period. Three classes of trajectories of maternal depression were identified: low stable, decreasers, and increasers. Results indicate that different classes of trajectories of maternal depression demonstrated differing levels of maternal problematic media use at Wave 1 and differing levels of both mother and child problematic media use at Wave 5. This family perspective provides a deeper understanding of how media ecosystems are connected to family-level processes and problematic media use for mothers and children. Findings suggest the need for better support of new mothers at a systemic level to support mothers' mental health and the healthy development of children's early relationship with media and technology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Assessment of Babesia ovis pathogenicity in goats: implications for transmission dynamics and host resistant

Babesia ovis, commonly associated with ovine babesiosis, poses a significant threat to sheep health, often resulting in severe clinical manifestations and high mortality rates. However, the impact of B. ovis on goats has remained uncertain, prompting us to investigate its pathogenicity in caprine hosts. Experimental infections using B. ovis-infected blood inoculation and infected tick infestation, were conducted on spleen-intact (n=5) and splenectomized (n=5) goats. The experimental infection was performed using fresh blood obtained from a B. ovis-infected splenectomized sheep. One spleen-intact sheep served as a control for the experimental infection with B. ovis-infected Rhipicephalus bursa ticks. While all experimentally infected sheep (#501, #575) displayed severe clinical symptoms and high parasitemia, goats exhibited resistance, showing no significant clinical manifestations or sustained parasitemia. Notably, B. ovis was detected in two spleen-intact goats via nested PCR, prompting further investigation into their role as reservoirs for tick-borne transmission. These goats were then infested with Babesia spp.-free R. bursa larvae (0.1 gr) and adults (50 females and 50 males) for transstadial and transovarial transmission experiments respectively. Results indicated that chronically B. ovis-infected spleen-intact goats are not significant sources for maintaining the tick-borne transmission cycle of the parasite. These findings highlight the differential susceptibility of goats to B. ovis infection compared to sheep and their limited role as reservoirs for parasite transmission. Understanding the role of goats in B. ovis transmission and their resistance mechanisms can inform effective control measures and reduce economic losses in affected regions. Further research into caprine babesiosis and host immunological responses is essential to fully elucidate their possible role as reservoirs of the parasite, and underlying mechanisms of host susceptibility and parasite pathogenesis.

NCOG-24. CHARACTERIZING NEUROTOXICITY ASSOCIATED WITH SYSTEMIC CHEMOTHERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER USING DOMAIN-SPECIFIC INTRA-INDIVIDUAL NEUROCOGNITIVE VARIABILITY

Abstract BACKGROUND Systemic chemotherapy is associated with neurotoxicity and neurocognitive functioning (NCF) changes. Intra-individual neurocognitive variability (IIV) is an index of NCF spread/dispersion across neuropsychological tests and can be elevated in patients with breast cancer (BC) after systemic chemotherapy. This study investigated longitudinal IIV changes within NCF domains after chemotherapy to determine whether: (1) IIV for NCF domains are more sensitive to changes than traditional mean-based metrics, and (2) whether changes in domain-specific IIV are associated with changes in mood disturbance or quality of life (QOL). METHODS Prior to and during/shortly after chemotherapy, 37 women with BC were administered a standardized NCF battery including tests within domains of attention/speed of information processing (A/SoP), learning/memory (L/M), and executive functions (EF). Within each domain, the coefficient of variation (CoV) was computed using the standard deviation of normatively-adjusted T-scores while adjusting for intra-individual mean. Patients were assessed for QOL using Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast and mood using the STAI and BDI. RESULTS Paired samples t-tests revealed that mean NCF performances declined for L/M (t[36])=-4.44,p<.001,Hedge’s g=.70) and improved for A/SoP (t[36]=3.21,p=.003,g=.29), while CoV increased/worsened for L/M (t[36]=3.82,p<.001,g=.76) but did not change for A/SoP (t[36]=-0.05,p=.959,g=.01). There was no change in EF mean or CoV (ps >.10). No domain mean or IIV change was associated with mood changes (ps>.10). Mean NCF changes were not associated with QOL (ps >.10). Increased/worsened L/M CoV was associated with improved FACT-Breast scale QOL (ρ=.40,p=.020). CONCLUSIONS Both mean- and IIV-based NCF worsened for learning/memory. Discrepancies between mean and IIV change for attention/speed of information processing may be due to differential susceptibility to practice effects. Unexpected associations between learning/memory IIV changes and QOL require further investigation. Future studies are needed to examine NCF dispersion changes across treatment status and in other cancer populations.

Growth form variations of Amaranthus hybridus L. biotypes with EPSPS mutations

AbstractSeveral Amaranthus hybridus L. biotypes present single and triple amino acid substitutions in EPSPS (5‐enolypyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase). In resistant and tolerant species to glyphosate, differential susceptibility and alterations in the EPSPS sequence could cause modifications in their morphological–structural characteristics, an issue that is unknown for biotypes of A. hybridus. The aim of the work was to determine the susceptibility to glyphosate, the presence of mutations in EPSPS and the growth form in four biotypes of this weed from north‐central Argentina. To carry out this, a dose–response assay was conducted, to determine the presence of mutations in the EPSPS, DNA was extracted, amplified and sequenced, and finally, to evaluate the morphological–structural variations, the growth form was analysed. Our findings revealed that Ah03, Ah07 and Ah36 biotypes had resistance factors of 22 to 118. The EPSPS sequence remains unaltered in the Ah39 biotype, leading it to be considered a susceptible biotype. Biotypes Ah03 and Ah36 had heterozygous changes in the DNA sequence resulting in amino acid substitutions at positions 102, 103 and 106 being considered resistant biotypes, whereas in Ah07 some individuals showed unaltered DNA sequences and others exhibited heterozygous changes. The growth form was quantitatively different between biotypes, standing the most susceptible biotype that produced more seeds and required less thermal time for the appearance of the terminal inflorescence. The present investigation provides new evidence that resistant biotypes with the triple DNA mutation exhibit variations in the growth form compared to susceptible biotypes of this weed.

Sympatric populations of crop and wild carrots (Daucus carota ssp.) have distinct viromes, with shared core species more prevalent in farm-grown populations

Viral exchanges between crops and wild plants are important considerations in virus ecology and epidemiology but remain poorly understood. To investigate such exchanges, we compared the viromes of wild and farmed carrots (Daucus carota ssp.) growing near each other in France. Farm populations included cultivated varieties and off-type carrots (resembling wild ones) growing among them. This crop - wild relative pathosystem offers notable opportunities for virus exchange due to the hosts’ genetic closeness and geographic proximity. High-throughput sequencing found that viral taxonomic richness was greatest in wild carrots. However, hierarchical clustering and bipartite network analyses revealed that wild and farm carrot viromes differed in their seed-borne and vector-borne components. While ~50% of viral taxa were shared among carrot population types, others were uniquely associated with either wild or farm carrots. Individual-plant RT-PCR testing of 16 aphid-borne agents from the shared core virome found their prevalence was generally greatest in farm populations, with some geographic variability in virus pressure. The viromes of off-type and cultivated carrots were most similar, suggesting that proximity and/or management practices influence virome properties. For some aphid-borne viruses, similar isolates were found in wild and cultivated carrots, suggesting exchanges between them or with a shared source. However, isolates of other aphid-borne viruses clustered by carrot type, indicating barriers to viral fluxes, that might involve differential susceptibility of populations, vector preferences, or unidentified factors. To improve virus management, we need better understanding of how specific facilitators and barriers of viral exchange can be manipulated to reduce negative viral impacts.

Characterisation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain differences in patients with multisite infection

BackgroundNeisseria gonorrhoeae, the aetiological agent of gonorrhoea, is an increasing global health priority due to high levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It is estimated that up to 42% of patients...

Lost in a Maze? On the Philosophical Problems With Differential and Individual-Level Susceptibility in Research on Media Effects

This paper provides a philosophical discussion of moderators and person-specific differences (referred to as “hedges”) in research on media effects. It is shown that while, historically, the reliance on hedges has been regarded as a sign of theoretical sophistication (the “hedges-as-progress-perspective”), it has left the field behind in a maze of epistemological problems. The paper therefore urges to reinterpret the role of hedges as a sign of theoretical resilience instead of sophistication (the “hedges-as-protection-perspective”). This shift is shown to have substantive implications for how one describes and evaluates media effects research—not just its history, but also its current state and its ambitions going into the future.

The impact of lethal and sub-lethal exposure of emamectin benzoate on populations of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under laboratory conditions

Emamectin benzoate is an avermectin bio-insecticide commonly used for managing several insect pests including Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a major polyphagous pest of many cultivated crops. The current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of emamectin benzoate on the fitness of S. litura populations exhibiting differential susceptibility to insecticide. The selection process and all the bioassays were carried out using 6-day-old 2nd instar larvae of S. litura. A field-collected population of S. litura was divided into two groups: one selected with emamectin benzoate for eight generations (EB-Sel) and the other kept unexposed (Unsel-Lab) to insecticide in the laboratory. An increase in resistance ratio from 1.71-fold in the F1 generation to 22.54-fold in the F8 generation of the EB-Sel population was observed compared to the Unsel-Lab (F8) population. The EB-Sel and Unsel-Lab populations were treated with their respective lethal and sub-lethal concentrations which resulted in an extended development period, decreased larval survival, and adult emergence along with increased morphological abnormalities in adults. Significant reductions were observed in both male and female longevity, fecundity, egg hatching, net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (rm), and finite rate of increase (λ) in EB-Sel and Unsel-Lab populations. Higher concentrations of the insecticide also reduced the relative fitness (Rf) of S. litura larvae, with maximum effect at LC50 of the EB-Sel population where the Rf value was 0.32 compared to the Unsel-Lab population. Both populations have been affected by emamectin benzoate exposure, however, the impact was more pronounced in the EB-Sel population indicating fitness costs. Our results suggested the fitness cost linked to emamectin benzoate resistance in S. litura which might favor managing insecticide resistance by reducing the frequency of resistant alleles by removing selection pressure. Consequently, our research provides significant insights to devise better pest management strategies for S. litura.

Neuronal Vulnerability of the Entorhinal Cortex to Tau Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease.

This review delves into the entorhinal cortex (EC) as a central player in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), emphasizing its role in the accumulation and propagation of tau pathology. It elucidates the multifaceted functions of the EC, encompassing memory formation, spatial navigation, and olfactory processing, while exploring how disruptions in these processes contribute to cognitive decline in AD. The review discusses the intricate interplay between tau pathology and EC vulnerability, highlighting how alterations in neuronal firing patterns and synaptic function within the EC exacerbate cognitive impairments. Furthermore, it elucidates how specific neuronal subtypes within the EC exhibit differential susceptibility to tau-induced damage, contributing to disease progression. Early detection methods, such as imaging techniques and assessments of EC blood flow, are examined as potential tools for identifying tau pathology in the preclinical stages of AD. These approaches offer promise for improving diagnostic accuracy and enabling timely intervention. Therapeutic strategies targeting tau pathology within the EC are explored, including the clearance of pathological tau aggregates and the inhibition of tau aggregation processes. By understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying EC vulnerability, researchers can develop more targeted and effective interventions to slow disease progression. The review underscores the importance of reliable biomarkers to assess disease progression and therapeutic efficacy in clinical trials targeting the EC. Ultimately, it aims to contribute to the development of more effective management strategies for AD, emphasizing the translation of research findings into clinical practice to address the growing societal burden of the disease.

Leaf abaxial and adaxial surfaces differentially affect the interaction of Botrytis cinerea across several eudicots.

Eudicot plant species have leaves with two surfaces: the lower abaxial and the upper adaxial surface. Each surface varies in a diversity of components and molecular signals, resulting in potentially different degrees of resistance to pathogens. We tested how Botrytis cinerea, a necrotroph fungal pathogen, interacts with the two different leaf surfaces across 16 crop species and 20 Arabidopsis genotypes. This showed that the abaxial surface is generally more susceptible to the pathogen than the adaxial surface. In Arabidopsis, the differential lesion area between leaf surfaces was associated with jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) signaling and differential induction of defense chemistry across the two surfaces. When infecting the adaxial surface, leaves mounted stronger defenses by producing more glucosinolates and camalexin defense compounds, partially explaining the differential susceptibility across surfaces. Testing a collection of 96 B.cinerea strains showed the genetic heterogeneity of growth patterns, with a few strains preferring the adaxial surface while most are more virulent on the abaxial surface. Overall, we show that leaf-Botrytis interactions are complex with host-specific, surface-specific, and strain-specific patterns.

Characteristic of the changes in magnetic properties of heat-treated steel at the early stages of cold plastic deformation by tensile strain

The present work establishes alloy steel 38KhS exhibits distinct features such as an inflection point and a second peak in the field dependencies of differential magnetic susceptibility only in samples with ε = 4 % and tempering temperatures of 650 and 700 °C, unlike annealed low-carbon steel. The absence of such characteristics on the χd(H) curves for samples with ε = 2 % and Ttemp 650 °C is likely due to the high level of randomly distributed internal stresses remaining after heat treatment. These stresses prevent the formation of an «easy plane» magnetic texture after plastic deformation by stretching.

Genomic Landscape and Regulation of RNA Editing in Pekin Ducks Susceptible to Duck Hepatitis A Virus Genotype 3 Infection.

RNA editing is increasingly recognized as a post-transcriptional modification that directly affects viral infection by regulating RNA stability and recoding proteins. the duck hepatitis A virus genotype 3 (DHAV-3) infection is seriously detrimental to the Asian duck industry. However, the landscape and roles of RNA editing in the susceptibility and resistance of Pekin ducks to DHAV-3 remain unclear. Here, we profiled dynamic RNA editing events in liver tissue and investigated their potential functions during DHAV-3 infection in Pekin ducks. We identified 11,067 informative RNA editing sites in liver tissue from DHAV-3-susceptible and -resistant ducklings at three time points during virus infection. Differential RNA editing sites (DRESs) between S and R ducks were dynamically changed during infection, which were enriched in genes associated with vesicle-mediated transport and immune-related pathways. Moreover, we predicted and experimentally verified that RNA editing events in 3'-UTR could result in loss or gain of miRNA-mRNA interactions, thereby changing the expression of target genes. We also found a few DRESs in coding sequences (CDSs) that altered the amino acid sequences of several proteins that were vital for viral infection. Taken together, these data suggest that dynamic RNA editing has significant potential to tune physiological processes in response to virus infection in Pekin ducks, thus contributing to host differential susceptibility to DHAV-3.

Differential susceptibility of human motor neurons to infection with Usutu and West Nile virus

West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are closely related flaviviruses with differing capacities to cause neurological disease in humans. WNV is thought to use a transneural route of neuroinvasion along motor neurons and causes severe motor deficits. The potential for use of transneural routes of neuroinvasion by USUV has not been investigated experimentally, and evidence from the few clinical case reports of USUV-associated neuroinvasive disease is lacking. We hypothesised that, compared with WNV, USUV is less able to infect motor neurons, and therefore determined the susceptibility of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived spinal cord motor neurons to infection. Both viruses could grow to high titres in iPSC-derived neural cultures. However, USUV could not productively infect motor neurons due to restriction by the antiviral response, which was not induced upon WNV infection. Inhibition of the antiviral response allowed for widespread infection and transportation of USUV along motor neurons within a compartmented culture system. These results show a stark difference in the ability of these two viruses to evade initiation of intrinsic antiviral immunity. Our data suggests that USUV cannot infect motor neurons in healthy individuals but in case of immunodeficiency may pose a risk for motor-related neurological disease and transneural invasion.

Elavl1 is dispensable for appendicular skeletal development.

Elavl1/HuR is a RNA binding protein implicated in multiple developmental processes with pleiotropic roles in RNA life cycle. Loss of Elavl1 is incompatible with life with early embryonic loss of Elavl1 in epiblast cells being lethal with defects in placental branching and embryonic tissue growth. Postnatal global deletion of Elavl1/HuR results in lethality with atrophy in multiple tissues mainly due to loss of progenitor cells. However, roles of Elavl1 specifically during embryonic limb development is not well understood. Here we report that deletion of Elavl1 in limb bud mesenchyme in mouse did not reveal any abnormalities during embryonic development with normal development in pre- and postnatal limb skeleton. Analyses of skeletal patterning, morphogenesis and skeletal maturation including skeletal elements in stylopod, zeugopod and autopod during development did not reveal any significant differences between long bones from control and Elavl1 conditional knockout animals. Our study indicates differential dependency and susceptibility to loss of Elavl1 in different stem cell lineages with its functions being dispensable during limb development.

Alcohol Use Among American Youth: Differential Susceptibility to Peer Influence on Substance Use Tied to Genetic Risk

ABSTRACT The behavior of peers is one of the most robust correlates of deviance and arguably the strongest influence on substance use; however, not all youth mirror their peers’ behavior. Understanding how youth may be differentially susceptible to peer influence has implications for both theory and substance use policy. The potential moderation of the peer behavior-youth substance use relationship by genetic risk is explored to determine if differential susceptibility to peer influence is partially tied to biological factors. A subsample of data from the first two waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) is utilized (n = 1,495). Evidence of a gene-environment interaction emerges whereby genetic risk conditions the relationship between peer substance use and early onset of alcohol use in models controlling for several risk and protective factors (e.g. poverty, self-control, victimization, social support, neighborhood dissatisfaction, religiosity). Genotype appears particularly salient when youth report a moderate degree of peer substance use (when peer substance use exceeds the mean but does not reach the extreme). This finding has implications for Burgess and Akers’ Social Learning Theory and other peer-based theories of behavior. It suggests that interventions to insulate youth from substance-using peers will be particularly impactful for those at enhanced genetic risk for early alcohol use. The identified gene-environment interaction partially explains why some youth are differentially susceptible to peer influence.

Proposed Physiological Mechanisms Underlying the Association between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Mental Health Conditions: A Narrative Review.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs; e.g., physical abuse) can impact lifelong mental health both directly and intergenerationally, with effects transmitted from the parent to the child. Several physiological mechanisms have been proposed to explain the impacts of ACEs on mental health. The purpose of this narrative review was to synthesize and critique the peer-reviewed literature on physiological mechanisms proposed to underlie the impacts of ACEs on mental health, specifically: (1) hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning, (2) inflammation, (3) genetic inheritance and differential susceptibility, (4) epigenetics, (5) brain structure and function, (6) oxidative stress, and (7) metabolic profiles. We searched Google Scholar using variations of the terms "adverse childhood experiences", "mechanisms", and "mental health" to locate relevant peer-reviewed literature. We also mined citations of the identified literature to find additional important sources. The role of inflammation in the etiology of mental health conditions among those exposed to ACEs appeared promising, followed by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning, brain structure and function, genetics, epigenetics, metabolism, and lastly, oxidative stress. Replication studies that examine the associations among ACEs, genetic inheritance and differential susceptibility, epigenetics, oxidative stress, and metabolism are required to better define links with mental health.

Heterogeneity of Salmonella enterica lipopolysaccharide counteracts macrophage and antimicrobial peptide defenses.

Salmonella enterica is comprised of over 2,500 serovars, in which non-typhoidal serovars (NTS), Enteritidis (SE), and Typhimurium (STM) are the most clinically associated with human infections. Although NTS have similar genetic elements to cause disease, phenotypic variation including differences in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) composition may control immune evasion. Here, we demonstrate that macrophage host defenses and LL-37 antimicrobial efficacy against SE and STM are substantially altered by LPS heterogeneity. We found that SE evades macrophage killing by inhibiting phagocytosis while STM survives better intracellularly post-phagocytosis. SE-infected macrophages failed to activate the inflammasomes and subsequently produced less interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-18, and interferon λ. Inactivation of LPS biosynthesis genes altered LPS composition, and the SE LPS-altered mutants could no longer inhibit phagocytosis, inflammasome activation, and type II interferon signaling. In addition, SE and STM showed differential susceptibility to the antimicrobials LL-37 and colistin, and alteration of LPS structure substantially increased susceptibility to these molecules. Collectively, our findings highlight that modification of LPS composition by Salmonella increases resistance to host defenses and antibiotics.

Contribution of machine learning for subspecies identification from Mycobacterium abscessus with MALDI-TOF MS in solid and liquid media.

Mycobacterium abscessus (MABS) displays differential subspecies susceptibility to macrolides. Thus, identifying MABS's subspecies (M. abscessus, M. bolletii and M. massiliense) is a clinical necessity for guiding treatment decisions. We aimed to assess the potential of Machine Learning (ML)-based classifiers coupled to Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) MS to identify MABS subspecies. Two spectral databases were created by using 40 confirmed MABS strains. Spectra were obtained by using MALDI-TOF MS from strains cultivated on solid (Columbia Blood Agar, CBA) or liquid (MGIT®) media for 1 to 13 days. Each database was divided into a dataset for ML-based pipeline development and a dataset to assess the performance. An in-house programme was developed to identify discriminant peaks specific to each subspecies. The peak-based approach successfully distinguished M. massiliense from the other subspecies for strains grown on CBA. The ML approach achieved 100% accuracy for subspecies identification on CBA, falling to 77.5% on MGIT®. This study validates the usefulness of ML, in particular the Random Forest algorithm, to discriminate MABS subspecies by MALDI-TOF MS. However, identification in MGIT®, a medium largely used in mycobacteriology laboratories, is not yet reliable and should be a development priority.

Differential Susceptibility in the Intergenerational Transmission of Secure Base Script Knowledge?

Differential Susceptibility in the Intergenerational Transmission of Secure Base Script Knowledge?

Approaches and methods to study wildlife cancer.

The last few years have seen a surge of interest from field ecologists and evolutionary biologists to study neoplasia and cancer in wildlife. This contributes to the One Health Approach, which investigates health issues at the intersection of people, wild and domestic animals, together with their changing environments. Nonetheless, the emerging field of wildlife cancer is currently constrained by methodological limitations in detecting cancer using non-invasive sampling. In addition, the suspected differential susceptibility and resistance of species to cancer often make the choice of a unique model species difficult for field biologists. Here, we provide an overview of the importance of pursuing the study of cancer in non-model organisms and we review the currently available methods to detect, measure and quantify cancer in the wild, as well as the methodological limitations to be overcome to develop novel approaches inspired by diagnostic techniques used in human medicine. The methodology we propose here will help understand and hopefully fight this major disease by generating general knowledge about cancer, variation in its rates, tumour-suppressor mechanisms across species as well as its link to life history and physiological characters. Moreover, this is expected to provide key information about cancer in wildlife, which is a top priority due to the accelerated anthropogenic change in the past decades that might favour cancer progression in wild populations.