Interpopulation Variation Research Articles

Altitude and ground brightness explain interpopulation variation in dorsal coloration in a lizard

Abstract Non-signaling functions of coloration include thermoregulation (thermal melanism hypothesis), protection against ultraviolet radiation (photoprotection hypothesis), and concealment from predators (crypsis hypothesis). We investigated whether dorsal coloration in 19 populations of spiny-footed lizards, Acanthodactylus erythrurus, across the Iberian Peninsula varies according to these functions. We captured adult males and females in each population and calculated standardized dorsum brightness estimates from photographs. We also calculated standardized ground luminosity estimates and gathered information on latitude, altitude, mean annual temperature, and mean annual solar radiation for each location. Males showed a higher percentage of black coloration and a more contrasted dorsum than females, suggesting different selection pressures on dorsal coloration in both sexes. Furthermore, males showed a darker dorsum and a higher percentage of black coloration at higher altitudes and when the ground was darker. In contrast, females exhibited a darker dorsum only when the ground was darker and a higher percentage of black coloration only at higher altitudes. We also observed that the variation of dorsum luminosity within males and the variation of dorsum luminosity among females within populations were both positively related to the variation of ground luminosity among different points within locations. Latitude, temperature, and solar radiation were not significantly related to dorsal coloration in either sex. Our results support the photoprotection and crypsis hypotheses in males and, to some extent, in females, whereas the thermal melanism hypothesis is weakly supported in both sexes. These findings suggest that there is local adaptation in the dorsal coloration of the spiny-footed lizard.

Evaluation of variability of morphometric traits of plants and age spectrum of cenopopulations of Matthiola daghestanica (Brassicaceae) of the Piedmont and Mid‐mountain Dagestan, Russia

Aim: Study of intra‐ and interpopulation variability of quantitative traits of Matthiola daghestanica (Conti) N. Busch and assessment of the age spectrum of natural cenopopulations of Piedmont and Mid‐mountain Dagestan. The material consisted of 90 plants (shoots with inflorescences) taken from coenopopulations of various locations of the studied species (450, 610 and 960 m above sea level). An analysis of the variability of 12 morphological traits of M. daghestanica was carried out. To assess the age spectrum, 5x5 m test plots were laid out at three points (75 m²), where the age (ontogenetic) states of M. daghestanica guided by methods from the works of T.A. Rabotnov (1950) and A.A. Uranov (1957).The variability of the morphological traits of the Dagestan endemic M. daghestanica has been studied and its age spectrum in the natural cenopopulations of Piedmont and Mid‐mountain Dagestan has been assessed. The most variable were the weight traits. Analysis of the significance of the differences between the selected groups using the t‐test confirmed that “Chakh‐Chakh” is highly isolated from other coenopopulations, and to the greatest extent from “Chirkata”. The linear trait “length vegetative features” introduces the greatest significant differences between all coenopopulations. The percentage of age states from the total number of individuals varies among populations. The age spectrum of M. daghestanica in the “Chirkata” cenopopulation is represented by a predominance of the juvenile (25 %) and virginal (25 %) groups and in the “Ashilta” cenopopulation by the adult group (23.9 %). Among the age states of the generative period in all cenopopulations, young generative individuals prevail (16.7–19.4 %). The largest number of middle‐aged generative individuals is in the “Chakh‐Chakh” cenopopulation (16.3 %).Analysis of the variability of morphological characteristics of M. daghestanica plants showed that linear and numerical traits for the three cenopopulations are less variable. Significant variability was revealed in weight characteristics: “mass caulis and leaves” (518.3–818.7 mg); “total mass shoot” (990.7–1342.8 mg). The squared Mahalanobis distances of the characters studied revealed the isolation of the “Chakh‐Chakh” cenopopulation from the other two (“Achilta”, “Chirkata”). The age spectrum of M. daghestanica coenopopulations is similar in the Piedmont and Mid‐mountain Dagestan, despite the different number of age states. Cenopopulations of M. daghestanica are normal, capable of self‐renewal, characterized by recovery indices of 1.2–2.8 %.

Asia-inclusive drug development leveraging principles of ICH E5 and E17 guidelines: Case studies illustrating quantitative clinical pharmacology as a foundational enabler.

With the International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) E17 guidelines in effect from 2018, the design of Asia-inclusive multiregional clinical trials (MRCTs) has been streamlined, thereby enabling efficient simultaneous global development. Furthermore, with the recent regulatory reforms in China and its drug administration joining the ICH as a full regulatory member, early participation of China in the global clinical development of novel investigational drugs is now feasible. This would also allow for inclusion of the region in the geographic footprint of pivotal MRCTs leveraging principles of the ICH E5 and E17. Herein, we describe recent case examples of model-informed Asia-inclusive global clinical development in the EMD Serono portfolio, as applied to the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related inhibitors, tuvusertib and berzosertib (oncology), the toll-like receptor 7/8 antagonist, enpatoran (autoimmune diseases), the mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor inhibitor tepotinib (oncology), and the antimetabolite cladribine (neuroimmunological disease). Through these case studies, we illustrate pragmatic approaches to ethnic sensitivity assessments and the application of a model-informed drug development toolkit including population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling and pharmacometric disease progression modeling and simulation to enable early conduct of Asia-inclusive MRCTs. These examples demonstrate the value of a Totality of Evidence approach where every patient's data matter for de-risking ethnic sensitivity to inter-population variations in drug- and disease-related intrinsic and extrinsic factors, enabling inclusive global development strategies and timely evidence generation for characterizing benefit/risk of the proposed dosage in Asian populations.

Seasonal and between-population variation in heat tolerance and cooling efficiency in a Mediterranean songbird

Discrete populations of widely distributed species may inhabit areas with marked differences in climatic conditions across geographic and seasonal scales, which could result in intraspecific variation in thermal physiology reflecting genetic adaptation, phenotypic plasticity, or both. However, few studies have evaluated inter-population variation in physiological responses to heat. We evaluated within- and inter-population seasonal variation in heat tolerance, cooling efficiency and other key thermoregulatory traits in two Mediterranean populations of Great tit Parus major experiencing contrasting thermal environments: a lowland population subject to hotter summers and a higher annual thermal amplitude than a montane population. Specifically, we measured heat tolerance limits (HTL), body temperature, resting metabolic rate, evaporative water loss, and evaporative cooling efficiency (the ratio between evaporative heat loss to metabolic heat production) within and above the thermoneutral zone during winter and summer. Heat tolerance during summer was greater in lowland than in montane birds; indeed, lowland birds seasonally increased this trait to a significant level, while montane ones did to a lesser extent. Besides, lowland birds showed greater evaporative cooling efficiency during summer (possibly due in part to reductions in total endogenous heat load), while surprisingly montane ones showed the opposite trend. Thus, lowland birds displayed greater seasonal flexibility in HTL, body temperature and resting metabolic rate above thermoneutrality, thus giving some support to the climatic variability hypothesis — that flexibility in thermoregulatory traits should increase with climatic variability. Our results partially support the idea that songbirds’ adaptive thermoregulation in the heat is flexible, highlighting the importance of considering intraspecific variation in thermoregulatory traits when modelling the future distribution and persistence of species under different climate change scenarios.

Intraspecific variation of multi-elements in seeds of Euptelea pleiospermum and its association with soils, climate, and leaf elements

Abstract Seed mineral nutrition is essential for early seedling establishment, and varies under different environmental conditions. However, the intraspecific variation of multi-elements in seeds and the relative effects of climate and soil on seed elements remain unclear, even though understanding these factors is crucial for predicting plant reproductive responses to global changes. Here, we sampled seeds from Euptelea pleiospermum across 18 populations in China. We quantified the inter-population variation of 12 elements in the seeds and analyzed their relationship with soil characteristics and climatic variables. We also explored the relationship of N and P concentrations between seeds and leaves. Results showed that seed elements were highly variable across different populations, with macroelements exhibiting lower variability than most of the microelements. Along the latitudinal gradient, the concentrations of K, Ca, Fe and Al in seeds increased, while the concentrations of C and Mn decreased. The stoichiometry of seed elements did not significantly correlate with latitude. Seed element concentrations were associated with both soil and climatic variables, and the influence of soil conditions on intraspecific variations is comparable to or even greater than climatic factors. However, seed stoichiometry was less related to environmental factors. Seeds had higher P but lower N than leaves, with no correlation between seed elements and leaf elements. Our findings suggest that mountain tree species respond to different local environments by adjusting seed element concentrations while maintaining relatively stable seed stoichiometry. We emphasize that, in addition to climate change, soil conditions should be considered when predicting the influence of environmental changes on the elemental composition of plant reproductive organs.

Factors shaping home ranges of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Western Carpathians

Understanding how large carnivores utilize space is crucial for management planning in human-dominated landscape and enhances the accuracy of population size estimates. However, Eurasian lynx display a large inter-population variation in the size of home ranges across their European range which makes extrapolation to broader areas of a species distribution problematic. This study evaluates variations in home range size for 35 Eurasian lynx in the Western Carpathians during 2011–2022 based on GPS telemetry and explains how intrinsic and environmental factors shape lynx spatial behaviour when facing anthropogenic pressure. The average annual home range size of lynx ranged from 283 (± 42 SE) to 360 (± 60 SE) km2 for males and from 148 (± 50 SE) to 190 (± 70 SE) km2 for females, depending on home range estimator (95% MCP, KDE and AKDE). Females with kittens had smaller annual and summer home ranges compared to non-reproducing females and subadults had smaller home ranges compared to adults. Lynx home range size was explained by availability of roe deer, except for summer, when alternative prey was likely available. We also found clear evidence of human-induced changes in lynx home range size, in particular, forest cover significantly decreased the home range size of male lynx during summer while road density led to an expansion of both annual and summer lynx home ranges. Lynx exhibited consistent fidelity to their home ranges throughout consecutive seasons, showing no seasonal variations. Strong territoriality was observed among competing males maintaining relatively low home range overlaps and considerable distances between centres of activity. The most pronounced tendency for association was observed between males and females, maintaining relatively close proximity year-round. The insights into lynx spatial requirements provided by our study will greatly enhance the accuracy of population size estimates and effectiveness of mitigation measures across the Western Carpathians.

Interpopulation variation in dispersal behavior of fat minnow Rhynchocypris oxycephalus jouyi juveniles inhabiting fragmented habitats.

In many organisms, including fishes, downstream dispersal is often phenotype-dependent. Phenotype-dependent downstream dispersal can generate evolutionary pressure via spatial sorting, which non-randomly removes phenotypes enhancing downstream dispersal from upstream populations. Spatial sorting due to downstream dispersal could accumulate in fish populations in above-barrier habitats to which dispersed individuals cannot return, resulting in functional traits that reduce downstream dispersal. This evolutionary mechanism may be more important in smaller above-barrier habitats where downstream emigration occurs over shorter dispersal distances. This study observed the dispersal behavior of fat minnow Rhynchocypris oxycephalus jouyi juveniles in an experimental tank to examine whether juveniles from small above-barrier habitats show more behaviors favorable for reducing downstream dispersal than those from large above-barrier habitats. Juveniles from small above-barrier habitats avoided downstream dispersal for longer durations than those from large above-barrier habitats, but there was no difference in the frequency of ascending attempts. These results support the notion that behavioral traits of juveniles in small above-barrier populations have been refined by spatial sorting to reduce downstream dispersal. The finding that interpopulation variation in dispersal behavior occurred only for certain dispersal directions implies that the behavioral consequences of habitat fragmentation are more complex than previously assumed.

Unveiling intra-population functional variability patterns in a European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) population from the southern range edge: drought resistance, post-drought recovery and phenotypic plasticity.

Understanding covariation patterns of drought resistance, post-drought recovery and phenotypic plasticity, and their variability at the intra-population level are crucial for predicting forest vulnerability to increasing aridity. This knowledge is particularly urgent at the trailing range edge since, in these areas, tree species are proximal to their ecological niche boundaries. While this proximity increases their susceptibility, these populations are recognized as valuable genetic reservoirs against environmental stressors. The conservation of this genetic variability is critical for the adaptive capacity of the species in the current context of climate change. Here we examined intra-population patterns of stem basal growth, gas exchange and other leaf functional traits in response to an experimental drought in seedlings of 16 open-pollinated families within a marginal population of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) from its southern range edge. We found a high degree of intra-population variation in leaf functional traits, photosynthetic performance, growth patterns and phenotypic plasticity in response to water availability. Low phenotypic plasticity was associated with higher resistance to drought. Both drought resistance and post-drought recovery of photosynthetic performance varied between maternal lines. However, drought resistance and post-drought recovery exhibited independent variation. We also found intra-population variation in stomatal sensitivity to soil drying, but it was not associated with either drought resistance or post-drought recovery. We conclude that an inverse relationship between phenotypic plasticity and drought resistance is not necessarily a sign of maladaptive plasticity, but rather it may reflect stability of functional performance and hence adaptation to withstand drought. The independent variation found between drought resistance and post-drought recovery should facilitate to some extent microevolution and adaption to increasing aridity. The observed variability in stomatal sensitivity to soil drying was consistent with previous findings at other scales (e.g., inter-specific variation, inter-population variation) that challenge the iso-anisohydric concept as a reliable surrogate of drought tolerance.

Estimation of genetic variation in vitiligo associated genes: Population genomics perspective

BackgroundVitiligo is an auto-immune progressive depigmentation disorder of the skin due to loss of melanocytes. Genetic risk is one of the important factors for development of vitiligo. Preponderance of vitiligo in certain ethnicities is known which can be analysed by understanding the distribution of allele frequencies across normal populations. Earlier GWAS identified 108 risk alleles for vitiligo in Europeans and East Asians. In this study, 64 of these risk alleles were used for analysing their enrichment and depletion across populations (1000 Genomes Project and IndiGen) with reference to 1000 Genomes dataset. Genetic risk scores were calculated and Fisher’s exact test was performed to understand statistical significance of their variation in each population with respect to 1000 Genomes dataset as reference. In addition to SNPs reported in GWAS, significant variation in allele frequencies of 1079 vitiligo-related genes were also analysed. Two-tailed Chi-square test and Bonferroni’s multiple adjustment values along with fixation index (≥ 0.5) and minimum allele frequency (≥ 0.05) were calculated and used to prioritise the variants based on pairwise comparison across populations.ResultsRisk alleles rs1043101 and rs10768122 belong to 3 prime UTR of glutamate receptor gene SLC1A2 are found to be highly enriched in the South Asian population when compared with the ‘global normal’ population. Intron variant rs4766578 (ATXN2) was found to be deleted in SAS, EAS and AFR and enriched in EUR and AMR1. This risk allele is found to be under positive selection in SAS, AMR1 and EUR. From the ancillary vitiligo gene list, nonsynonymous variant rs16891982 was found to be enriched in the European and the Admixed American populations and depleted in all others. rs2279238 and rs11039155 belonging to the LXR-α gene involved in regulation of metalloproteinase 2 and 9 (melanocyte precursors) were found to be associated with vitiligo in the North Indian population (in earlier study).ConclusionThe differential enrichment/depletion profile of the risk alleles provides insight into the underlying inter-population variations. This would provide clues towards prioritisation of SNPs associated with vitiligo thereby elucidating its preponderance in different ethnic groups.

Leaf phenotypic plasticity of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) at its northern range in Dinaric Alps

The Dinaric Alps have been recognised on numerous occasions as a biodiversity hotspot. They host a variety of species with great importance in sustainable forestry operations and nature conservation. One such species is the European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L., Oleaceae), a broad-leaved, wind-pollinated and wind-dispersed forest tree. In this paper, we aimed to determine the morphological variability of the European ash populations of the northern Dinaric Alps. For this purpose, leaf samples from 10 individuals in seven populations were collected. Morphometric analysis of intra- and interpopulation variability was conducted using 19 morphological leaf traits. We determined great variability of trees within, and small variability among, populations. The variables that best discriminated studied populations were those relating to leaflet shape. Based on these variables, populations were grouped into two clusters. The first cluster encompassed individuals with acute leaflets, found in drier and rockier habitats, whereas the second cluster, defined by more rounded leaflets, was found in mesophilous and nutrient-rich habitats. However, this research revealed no influence of geographical or bioclimatic distances on morphological variability, which indicates that the rockiness and soil are most likely two predominant factors in shaping the phenotypic plasticity of European ash populations. These results are of great significance in the planning of future forest breeding programs, as populations from drier habitats are likely to persist and spread due to their adaptation to water scarcity, which will become more pronounced in the future.

Systematic position of Rivina humilis var. humilis, R. humilis var. bracteata and R. bengalensis based on nrDNA ITS and cpDNA rbcL & trnH-psbA sequence data

The ITS and cpDNA sequences were obtained for three taxa of the family Phytolaccaceae, viz. Rivina bengalensis S.C.Srivast. & T.K.Paul, R. humilis L. var. humilis, and R. humilis var. bracteata D.Maity, Sonia Mitra, Manasi Mandal & Maiti. The MLtree strongly supports the Rivina humilis clade, which includes R. bengalensis and R. humilis var. bracteata. The synonymization of R. bengalensis is supported by both molecular and morphological data. The accessions of Rivina humilis var. bracteata group together in the R. humilis clade, but the results also show inter-population variation, which primarily supports the varietal status of the taxon. The broadly oblanceolate bracts which is abruptly narrowed from middle or above middle into a long subulate to narrowly triangular, acuminate apical lobe make the variety distinct from typical R. humilis. The combined rbcL and trnH-psbA dataset reveal congruent result for the sequenced Rivina spp. Present study is the first report on molecular systematics of R. humilis from India.

Phenotypic analysis of mezcal agaves from the Central Valleys of Oaxaca

Objective: Mezcal agaves in the state of Oaxaca have a high economic value due to the demand for mezcal production; therefore, the purpose of this work was to assess and highlight the importance of morphological diversity within and among cultivated Agave species. Design/Methodology/Approach: A completely randomized experimental design with 25 treatments (populations) and 11 replicates (individuals) was implemented. The plant (individual) was the experimental unit and 19 morphological descriptors proposed by the National Seed Inspection and Certification Service (SNICS) were assessed. A total of 275 individuals of the Agave angustifolia, Agave karwinskii, Agave marmorata, Agave rhodacantha, Agave potatorum, Agave seemanniana, and Agave nussaviorum species were assessed using a multivariate analysis to determine their phenotypic variability and existing relationships. Results: The dendrograms for the Q-mode and R-mode were obtained by means of a cluster analysis, forming 4 groups based on the average linkage generated from the standardized BDM of the sampled species of the genus Agave. Four groups were formed using the k-means clustering method, in accordance with field observations and a review of the taxonomic bibliography. The first two principal components (PC) accounted for 66.4% of the total variation, according to the principal component analysis (PCA). For PC1 and PC2, the variables with the highest contribution were those related to leaf shape (Fh), size of the lateral spine (FEL), number of leaves (Nh), plant height (H), uniformity in the size of the lateral spines (UTE), and terminal spine shape (FET). Study Limitations/Implications: A comprehensive study requires taxonomic keys to identify species, subspecies, and even varieties of Agave. Additionally, molecular characterization is essential to understand the variability and phylogenetic relationships of these populations, subject to a phylogenetic analysis. Findings/Conclusions: Multivariate analysis techniques revealed that three species showed high phenotypic variability in the maturation stage under cultivation conditions. The A. potatorum and A. karwinskii species had a greater intra-population phenotypic variability, with significant differences within the same species. Agave marmorata showed no intra- or inter-population variability. Leaf texture (Txh) was the only variable that explained the variation within its group. This is a tall species whose diameter is larger than in the other species. The variables of the Mexican (Agave rhodacantha) group showed low correlation, as their behavior was highly dispersed. The variables obtained in the field from this group of populations must be meticulously assessed to identify the degree of correlation between the variables and to confirm the behavior of this group.

Morphological variation in blackthorn (<i>Prunus spinosa</i> L.) populations in the Northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula - Absence of geographical and environmental structure

Blackthorn (<i>Prunus spinosa</i> L., Rosaceae) is a deciduous, insect-pollinated, and animal-dispersed shrub or a small tree that naturally occurs throughout Europe. The aims of this study were to describe fruit morphological variability of natural populations in the northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula and to determine the impact of geographical and environmental conditions on shaping the species’ variability. In total, ten fruit and stone morphological traits were studied using data from twelve natural populations. e obtained data was analyzed using descriptive and multivariate statistical methods. High morphological variability was determined both among and within the studied populations. However, our study revealed no clear eco-geographical differentiation of the studied populations. High morphological variability of the populations, but also the absence of geographical and environmental structuring of populations, could be attributed to the animal-mediated dispersal of fruits over greater distances, combined with the vegetative regeneration and high levels of seed flow among populations, as well as the influence of founder effect. Based on the conducted research, valuable information on intra- and interpopulation variability of fruits’ morphological traits was obtained, which can be useful in creating the guidelines for conservation, breeding, and afforestation programs.

The taxonomic status of recently described Isophya taxa from Serbia (Tettigoniidae, Phaneropterinae)

During recent decades, increasing research of the taxonomy of the genus Isophya resulted in taxonomic descriptions of several new species. The delimitation of these species is mainly based on oscillographic song analysis of the male song in combination with morphological characters, such as the shape of male cerci, tegmina and ovipositor. In the present paper, we used an integrative taxonomic approach in order to resolve the status of four recently described Isophya taxa from Serbia. Based on our molecular and bioacoustic analyses, all analyzed taxa belong to a single species: Isophya modestior. The majority of the morphological characters used to differentiate the taxa showed strong intra- and interpopulational variability, proving that describing new species within the genus Isophya should not rely on morphological characters alone, but needs to consider bioacoustic analyses as the main tool and a larger series of specimens.

Transcriptome profiling of the posterior salivary glands of the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis from the Portuguese West coast

Cephalopods like octopuses and cuttlefishes are known to secrete a ‘toxic saliva’ to inject into their prey, especially crustaceans since the XIX century. However, only in the mid-XX century were the first coleoid-specific toxins successfully isolated. Motivated by the growing interest on the global ocean as an almost inexhaustible source of novel bioactive compounds, we used RNA-Seq – based transcriptomics and de novo assembly of transcriptomes to screen the posterior salivary glands of Sepia officinalis (the common cuttlefish) from the Portuguese West coast for toxins and other bioactive proteins and peptides. Supported by microanatomical analyses, the posterior salivary glands constitute indeed the ‘venom gland’ whereas the more elusive anterior salivary glands (embedded in the buccal mass) are responsible for the production of mucin-rich saliva that is effectively the vehicle that transports the toxins as the venom is injected into the prey. Indeed, the transcriptomic profiling suggests that the cuttlefish venom is complex mixture of bioactive proteins, among which neurotoxins are major players, together with enzymes whose function is to digest the extracellular matrix to facilitate diffusion of the toxins. Nonetheless, by comparing with previous RNA-Seq data obtained from S. officinalis collected from other biogeographical areas, it may be suggested that significant inter-populational variation in venom composition can occur, which may potentially increase the span of bioactives secreted by these animals. We isolated and validated the full coding sequences for three important toxins, a cysteine-rich venom protein (CRVP), a venom insulin (VIns) and a cephalotoxin (CTX). The toxins seem to be relatively conserved among coleoids but diverging from other venomous mollusks such as cone snails. Their properties as potent modulators of glucose (in the case of VIns) and as potential neurotoxins (like CRVP and CTX) can render them primer targets for drug development.

Analysis of the genetic diversity and genetic structure of Dermatophagoides farinae in different habitats using microsatellite markers

ABSTRACT The mite, Dermatophagoides farinae, is an allergen source that triggers allergy symptoms in humans. We studied how different habitats affect the genetic structure of D. farinae populations. We used 12 microsatellite loci to analyse the genetic structure of six D. farinae populations collected from four habitats: flour mill (FM), dormitory (DM), cotton mill (CM), and pillow (PL). The CM population had the highest genetic diversity (He = 0.641) while the FM population had less genetic diversity. AMOVA analysis showed 81% intrapopulation genetic variation and 19% interpopulation variation. The overall F ST value of the six populations was 0.18531, indicating significant population genetic differentiation. Significant genetic differentiation occurred between the FM population and the other three habitat populations. Bayesian clustering analysis showed that the FM population was divided into two clusters. UPGMA tree and PCoA data supported the above results and indicated that the D. farinae populations from CM, PL, and DM1 had similar genetic ancestors. It was speculated that D. farinae could spread through the cotton-pillow-dormitory route. This study showed that D. farinae may have undergone habitat-associated differentiation and provides measures for preventing the dispersal of D. farinae.

Landscape of TPMT and NUDT15 Pharmacogenetic Variation in a Cohort of Canadian Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) exhibit considerable interindividual variability in medication response, highlighting the need for precision medicine approaches to optimize and tailor treatment. Pharmacogenetics (PGx) offers the ability to individualize dosing by examining genetic factors underlying the metabolism of medications such as thiopurines. Pharmacogenetic testing can identify individuals who may be at risk for thiopurine dose-dependent adverse reactions including myelosuppression. We aimed to evaluate PGx variation in genes supported by clinical guidelines that inform dosing of thiopurines and characterize differences in the distribution of actionable PGx variation among diverse ancestral groups. Pharmacogenetic variation in TPMT and NUDT15 was captured by genome-wide genotyping of 1083 pediatric IBD patients from a diverse Canadian cohort. Genetic ancestry was inferred using principal component analysis. The proportion of PGx variation and associated metabolizer status phenotypes was compared across 5 genetic ancestral groups within the cohort (Admixed American, African, East Asian, European, and South Asian) and to prior global estimates from corresponding populations. Collectively, 11% of the cohort was categorized as intermediate or poor metabolizers of thiopurines, which would warrant a significant dose reduction or selection of alternate therapy. Clinically actionable variation in TPMT was more prevalent in participants of European and Admixed American/Latino ancestry (8.7% and 7.5%, respectively), whereas variation in NUDT15 was more prevalent in participants of East Asian and Admixed American/Latino ancestry (16% and 15% respectively). These findings demonstrate the considerable interpopulation variability in PGx variation underlying thiopurine metabolism, which should be factored into testing diverse patient populations.

Older Adult Stair and Walking Speeds from Controlled Trials as Inputs into Simulations of Retirement Home Evacuation

This work aims to add to the current database of human movement data, specifically, 3-stair descent speeds from controlled trials of typically aging older adults (n=212, aged 60-99) with and without mobility impairments. Additionally, to explore the impacts of model input parameters, stair and walking speeds obtained from controlled trials are used to simulate first-iteration Canadian retirement home egress scenarios with Pathfinder. Analysis of descending stair speeds reveal interesting trends and key inter-population variations. Moreover, when the stair and horizontal walking speeds determined from these controlled trials are used as inputs into the illustrative egress simulations, a difference in predicted egress outcomes are seen compared to when model defaults are used. Together, the findings indicate important egress considerations for a vulnerable population.

Advertisement call variation is related to environmental and geographic distances in two anuran species inhabiting highland forests in northeastern Brazil

AbstractHighlands are of paramount importance to the study of evolution as they are frequently implicated in historical and ecological processes that generate and maintain biological diversity. In northeastern Brazil, sparse rainforest remnants located in highlands north of the São Francisco River are surrounded by the dry and open landscape of the Caatinga biome. Earlier studies suggested that these forests were historical refuges to the rainforest fauna and flora during Pleistocene's climatic cycles. However, it is still unclear whether populations in distinct highlands experienced phenotypic differentiation as a result of adaptation to environmental conditions of each forest remnant. Herein, we used two frog species widely distributed and ecologically different, Dendropsophus oliveirai, a habitat specialist, and Physalaemus cuvieri, a habitat generalist, to investigate the relationships between environmental variation, geographic, genetic, and body size distance with advertisement call variation among populations inhabiting different highlands. Our results indicated that acoustic variation among P. cuvieri populations is strongly influenced by environmental variation, but also by the geographic distance among populations. In D. oliveirai, environment is also the most influent factor on acoustic variation, followed by a lower influence of genetic and morphological variation. Associations between environmental and geographic factors suggest indirect effects of geographic distance on acoustic variation in both species through an environmental gradient. We believe that selective processes and isolation by distance possibly act together in driving interpopulational acoustic variation with habitat‐specific species being more affected by geographic isolation in suitable habitats.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.

Ecomorphological adaptation of Scorpaena porcus (Linnaeus, 1758): evidence from two different environments revealed by sagittae features and somatic growth rates

Improve the knowledge base on the ecomorphological adaptation of teleost species to different environments, trying to reconstruct how habitat can shape sagittae, is essential for conservational purposes, evolutionary evaluations, and population dynamics studies. Here is provided a comparative study between sagittae features, growth rates and age composition of two Scorpaena porcus populations inhabiting the Mediterranean waters, one from the Strait of Messina (Central Mediterranean Sea) and one from the Split area (Adriatic Sea). Additionally, the stomach contents of the Messina specimens have also been analysed to provide some preliminary information on the diet of S. porcus. A total of ninety individuals, half from each area, have been obtained from two extremely different environments. Results showed an overall different morphology, shape, and morphometry of sagittae among the size classes of the two investigated populations. Samples from Messina were characterized by a most elliptical and slender shape, with a more regular serration of margins than those from Split, which exhibited a wider sagitta, with a most enhanced anti-rostrum and longer rostrum. Concerning diet, specimens from Messina showed a preference for Crustacea (especially Brachyura and Amphipoda) and Teleost species, showing some differences with literature data from other geographical areas (Split one included). Results have confirmed the reliability of sagittae to detect the inter-population variability of S. porcus from different geographical areas, an essential tool for stock assessment, population studies and investigation on ecomorphological adaptation of teleost species to different habitats.