Analysis Of Population Dynamics Research Articles

Population dynamics analysis of the interaction between tacrolimus and voriconazole in renal transplant recipients

BackgroundThe concurrent administration of tacrolimus and voriconazole in kidney transplant recipients can lead to drug interactions, potentially resulting in severe adverse reactions. This study aimed to establish a robust population pharmacokinetic model to explore the interaction between tacrolimus and voriconazole in greater depth.MethodsTacrolimus blood samples and laboratory data were prospectively collected from eligible patients enrolled between April 2023 and April 2024, following predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Using Phoenix (version 8.1), a pharmacokinetic prediction model was developed. Model performance was assessed using model fitting plots, bootstrap analysis, and visual predictive checks (VPC).ResultsThis study ultimately included 51 eligible patients, with a total of 281 blood samples collected. Analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between voriconazole concentration (Cvrc) and tacrolimus volume of clearance rate (CL), a significant positive correlation between platelets (PLT) and tacrolimus clearance (CL), and a significant negative correlation between blood cells (RBC) and tacrolimus clearance (CL).ConclusionThis study successfully established a population pharmacokinetic model for renal transplant patients concurrently receiving tacrolimus and voriconazole. The model demonstrated good predictive performance and offers valuable insights to clinicians for optimizing tacrolimus dosing in this patient population.

The origin and transmission of HIV-1 CRF80_0107 among two major first-tier cities in China

BackgroundCRF01_AE and CRF07_BC are the two most prevalent HIV-1 genotypes in China, and the co-circulation of these two genotypes has led to the continuous generation of CRF_0107 viruses in recent years. However, little is known about the origin and spread of CRF_0107 viruses thus far. This study focused on HIV-1 CRF80_0107, which we previously identified among the MSM population in Beijing and Hebei Province, to explore the demographic distribution, transmission links, and temporal-spatial evolutionary features of the HIV-1 CRF80_0107 strain in China.MethodsWith the partial pol region fragment of the HIV-1 CRF80_0107 subtype standard sequence as a reference, BLAST was used to search for highly similar sequences in the Los Alamos HIV Sequence Database, followed by preliminary subtype identification via COMET. Further phylogenetic and recombination breakpoint analyses were conducted to verify the subtypes and recombination patterns. We also performed a distance-based molecular network analysis to identify potential relationships among different HIV-positive individuals. In addition, spatiotemporal evolutionary dynamics analysis of the candidate CRF80_0107 sequences was performed via a Bayesian approach.ResultsA total of 36 partial pol gene sequences of HIV-1 CRF80_0107 were identified from 2009 to 2018 from 5 provinces in China. Phylogenetic and spatial-temporal dynamics analyses indicated that CRF80_0107 likely originated in Beijing around 2009 and spread to Guangdong Province around 2012. Population dynamics analysis revealed that CRF80_0107 experienced a significant increase in population size from 2009 to 2011 and then stabilized. The study also found that the number of cases in Guangdong Province was second only to that in Beijing and formed 2 relatively independent transmission clusters in the MSM population in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.ConclusionsThe HIV-1 CRF80_0107 strain has spread to cities beyond its origin, particularly the MSM population in Shenzhen city, Guangdong Province, which is an area with a high incidence of HIV. This highlights the importance of continuous monitoring for the emergence and dynamic changes of novel HIV-1 recombinant viruses and the necessity of implementing effective preventive measures targeting specific populations in particular regions.

Bird Species Detection Net: Bird Species Detection Based on the Extraction of Local Details and Global Information Using a Dual-Feature Mixer.

Bird species detection is critical for applications such as the analysis of bird population dynamics and species diversity. However, this task remains challenging due to local structural similarities and class imbalances among bird species. Currently, most deep learning algorithms focus on designing local feature extraction modules while ignoring the importance of global information. However, this global information is essential for accurate bird species detection. To address this limitation, we propose BSD-Net, a bird species detection network. BSD-Net efficiently learns local and global information in pixels to accurately detect bird species. BSD-Net consists of two main components: a dual-branch feature mixer (DBFM) and a prediction balancing module (PBM). The dual-branch feature mixer extracts features from dichotomous feature segments using global attention and deep convolution, expanding the network's receptive field and achieving a strong inductive bias, allowing the network to distinguish between similar local details. The prediction balance module balances the difference in feature space based on the pixel values of each category, thereby resolving category imbalances and improving the network's detection accuracy. The experimental results using two public benchmarks and a self-constructed Poyang Lake Bird dataset demonstrate that BSD-Net outperforms existing methods, achieving 45.71% and 80.00% mAP50 with the CUB-200-2011 and Poyang Lake Bird datasets, respectively, and 66.03% AP with FBD-SV-2024, allowing for more accurate location and species information for bird detection tasks in video surveillance.

The influence of the forest corridors to the north of the Andes on the diversification of the bright-rumped Attila, Attila spadiceus (Passeriformes, Tyrannidae), during the climatic oscillations of the middle Pleistocene.

This study aims to enhance our understanding of the temporal and spatial processes scales governing the evolutionary diversification of Neotropical birds with Trans- and Cis-Andean populations of the species Attila spadiceus from South and Central America. Through a multilocus analysis of the mitochondrial (CytB and ND2) and nuclear genes (I7BF, I5BF, and G3PDH) of 41 samples representing six subspecies, we describe the existing molecular lineages of A. spadiceus, and estimate their demographic dynamics. We used Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM) with six different algorithms to predict the potential distribution of A. spadiceus in both present-day and past scenarios, examining the overlap climatic niche between Cis- and Trans-Andean lineages. The analysis confirms a relatively recent divergence of the Trans- and Cis-Andean lineages, at approximately 0.25 million years ago (Ma). The niche modeling supports the existence of a dynamic scenario of the expansion and retraction of forest corridors in northwestern South America during the last glaciation. This suggests that the earlier orogenesis of the Andes was not a primary determinant of this dichotomy. Additionally, the analysis of population dynamics indicated a trend of increasing population size starting at 0.05 Ma for both lineages. Our findings highlight the significance of Pleistocene Forest corridors north of the Andes as the key factor maintaining communication before the separation of the lineages, likely associated with the retraction of this forest. We highlight the absence of any significant differentiation between the disjunct Amazonian and Atlantic Forest populations, at both part of the Cis-Andean lineage. The phylogeographic profile of A. spadiceus diverges from the patterns observed in other Neotropical birds, which emphasizes the need for further research on the role of the forest corridors of the northern Andes as drivers of diversification, to provide comprehensive insights into the processes that led to the formation of the region's present-day avian diversity.

Conservation Implications of Population Structure and Dynamics in Medicinal Arbor Albizia odoratissima on Hainan Island, China

Albizia odoratissima Benth is a perennial evergreen tree valued for its medicinal properties and is indigenous to the mountainous regions of southwestern China. The population status of A. odoratissima has been sparsely studied. This study systematically evaluated the population structure and dynamics of A. odoratissima in the central mountainous region of Hainan Island, China, with the objective of informing the development of sustainable conservation strategies for the ecological restoration of its natural populations. Using the methodologies of population ecology, including the development of static life tables, population survival curves, population dynamics analysis, and time-series predictions, the results indicated that the populations of A. odoratissima on Hainan Island were geographically isolated into three groups. The age class distribution revealed that young, middle-aged, and mature individuals accounted for 5.73%, 74.94%, and 19.33%, respectively, suggesting a declining trend in the population. Moreover, the A. odoratissima population on Hainan Island was highly sensitive to anthropogenic disturbances, with significant increases in mortality rates observed at both the juvenile and mature stages. These results were likely due to the intraspecific and interspecific competitions, as well as external factors including human-induced disturbances, climate variability, and extreme weather events, which might potentially lead to the species’ future endangerment. Based on the current status of the A. odoratissima population, we develop adaptive management and forbid anthropogenic deforestation, conserving in situ and expanding populations, protecting ex situ germplasm resources, and replanting artificially, in order to manage the long-term conservation and management of A. odoratissima.

An interactive AI-driven platform for fish age reading.

Fish age is an important biological variable required as part of routine stock assessment and analysis of fish population dynamics. Age estimates are traditionally obtained by human experts from the count of ring-like patterns along calcified structures such as otoliths. To automate the process and minimize human bias, modern methods have been designed utilizing the advances in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). While many AI-based methods have been shown to attain satisfactory accuracy, there are concerns regarding the lack of explainability of some early implementations. Consequently, new explainable AI-based approaches based on U-Net and Mask R-CNN have been recently published having direct compatibility with traditional ring counting procedures. Here we further extend this endeavor by creating an interactive website housing these explainable AI methods allowing age readers to be directly involved in the AI training and development. An important aspect of the platform presented in this article is that it allows the additional use of different advanced concepts of Machine Learning (ML) such as transfer learning, ensemble learning and continual learning, which are all shown to be effective in this study.

Genomic epidemiology and evolutionary dynamics of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 during the fifth wave of COVID-19 in Pakistan.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has posed extraordinary challenges to global health systems and economies. The virus's rapid evolution has resulted in several variants of concern (VOCs), including the highly transmissible Omicron variant, characterized by extensive mutations. In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity, population differentiation, and evolutionary dynamics of the Omicron VOC during the fifth wave of COVID-19 in Pakistan. A total of 954 Omicron genomes sequenced during the fifth wave of COVID-19 in Pakistan were analyzed. A Bayesian framework was employed for phylogenetic reconstructions, molecular dating, and population dynamics analysis. Using a population genomics approach, we analyzed Pakistani Omicron samples, revealing low within-population genetic diversity and significant structural variation in the spike (S) protein. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Omicron variant in Pakistan originated from two distinct lineages, BA.1 and BA.2, which were introduced from South Africa, Thailand, Spain, and Belgium. Omicron-specific mutations, including those in the receptor-binding domain, were identified. The estimated molecular evolutionary rate was 2.562E-3 mutations per site per year (95% HPD interval: 8.8067E-4 to 4.1462E-3). Bayesian skyline plot analysis indicated a significant population expansion at the end of 2021, coinciding with the global Omicron outbreak. Comparative analysis with other VOCs showed Omicron as a highly divergent, monophyletic group, suggesting a unique evolutionary pathway. This study provides a comprehensive overview of Omicron's genetic diversity, genomic epidemiology, and evolutionary dynamics in Pakistan, emphasizing the need for global collaboration in monitoring variants and enhancing pandemic preparedness.

Community characteristics and population dynamics of Osmanthus pubipedicellatus, a rediscovered critically endangered species based on morphological and molecular evidence

AbstractConservation of plant diversity is essential in the current status of rapid biodiversity loss. A critically endangered species of Oleaceae, Osmanthus pubipedicellatus was rediscovered in its type locality after nearly a century based on morphological and molecular evidence, further supplemented by a revised description. Meanwhile, the static life table was established, the survival curve was drawn, and the quantitative analysis of population dynamics was made to evaluate the populations status of O. pubipedicellatus. Additionally, we analyzed the community characteristics to understand its natural habitat. The results showed that O. pubipedicellatus mainly grows in dense forests dominated by plants from Lauraceae and Fagaceae. The static life table, survival curve, and quantitative analysis of population dynamics showed that the population is fluctuating and vulnerable to external disturbance. In general, the population of O. pubipedicellatus was characterized by few individuals, lacking of seedlings and small trees, a single peak pattern of age class distribution and a trend to decline in the future. Consequently, we strongly recommend that more field work and conservation measures should be taken to suppress the decline of the O. pubipedicellatus population.

Cumulative collision risk and population-level consequences of industrial wind-power plant development for two vulture species: A quantitative warning

Prioritizing renewable energy generation over the conservation of natural habitats and species on a large spatial scale, leads to the paradox of impacting biodiversity to mitigate climate change. In this study, we aim at quantifying the long-term demographic impact of the excess mortality caused by collisions with wind turbines on the populations of two vulture species of conservation concern. Using long-term monitoring data and Integrated Population Models (IPMs), we quantified demographic parameters and projected population trends under various wind power development scenarios. Our findings indicate that even under our most optimistic scenarios, annual collision mortality could reach up to 30 % of the current Cinereous vulture population and 7 % of the Griffon vulture population. Without further wind power expansion, both vulture populations are predicted to remain stable or increase over the next 20 years. However, the addition of 85 wind turbines is likely to drive the Cinereous vulture to local extinction within 18 years and significantly slow the growth of the Griffon vulture population. Scenarios involving larger numbers of turbines could result in the extinction of both species within two to five years for Cinereous vultures and up to 20 years for Griffon vultures, depending on space use intensity. Our results underscore the vulnerability of long-lived species to excess mortality and highlight the need for comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) that incorporate population dynamics analyses. Effective conservation strategies must include rigorous pre- and post-construction monitoring, the availability of monitoring data, and cumulative impact assessments that consider the entire foraging range of these species. Additionally, strategic planning to avoid critical vulture habitats and implementing mitigation measures in buffer zones are essential. This study emphasizes the necessity of integrating biodiversity considerations into renewable energy planning to balance the goals of energy production and wildlife conservation.

Seasonal Patterns and Abiotic Influences on Fall Armyworm Dynamics in Chhattisgarh's Maize Agroecology

The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), an invasive pest in India, exhibits variations in population dynamics and incidence levels compared to its native regions. Understanding these variations is crucial for developing effective management strategies. Given India's diverse agroecosystems and climatic conditions, continuous watch on pest dynamics is essential. In this context a fixed plot experiment for comprehensive analysis of fall armyworm population dynamics, incidence patterns across seasons, and damage potentials in the maize crop ecosystem of the Chhattisgarh plains, India was conducted across three seasons of the year 2022-23. The year-round activity of the pest and its potential to cause huge losses in the early stages of maize was reported. Specifically, the study provided insights into the comparative incidence of fall armyworm in the different maize growing seasons of the area with a maximum incidence in the rainy season (0.58 larvae/plant) followed by winter (0.56 larvae/plant) and summer (0.53 larvae/plant) seasons. Moreover, the incidence trends of fall armyworm in different growing stages of maize were analysed by considering egg laying pattern, leaf damage, larval incidence and plant damage parameters, which highlighted the plant age-dependent response of fall armyworm. The impact of various weather parameters in shaping the damage and population fluctuations was analysed, where the influence of temperature was significant. Results obtained in this study are crucial in devising ETL levels and developing integrated pest management strategies against fall armyworm.

First detection probability, comparative analysis of ecological disparities and population dynamics of the Iranian long-legged wood frog in the Hyrcanian forests

First detection probability, comparative analysis of ecological disparities and population dynamics of the Iranian long-legged wood frog in the Hyrcanian forests

Population genetic characteristics of two crucian carp varieties derived from distant hybridization

The Hefang crucian carp (HFJ) derived from Carassius cuvieri (♀) × C. auratus red var. (♂) and the crucian carp-like homodiploid fish (NCRC) derived from Cyprinus carpio (♀) × Megalobrama amblycephala (♂) are important germplasm resources of crucian carp. To investigate the population characteristics and reveal the current genetic situations of these hybrid varieties, we sequenced one nuclear molecular marker transferrin (Tf) among six Carassius populations, which included two hybrid varieties (HFJ and NCRC), one laboratory variety (red crucian carp, RCC) and three wild populations. A total of 166 distinct Tf alleles (A1∼A166) were identified, with sequence lengths ranging from 1145 bp to 1244 bp. Unexpectedly, the nucleotide diversity of Tf alleles in cultured populations (HFJ, NCRC, and RCC) exceeded that of wild populations. The phylogenetic reconstruction analysis results showed that HFJ and C. cuvieri were closely related, but they could not be separated from C. auratus. Besides, while most Tf alleles of NCRC and other Carassius populations were intermixed in five clades, two Tf alleles, together with Cy. carpio, formed a distinct monophyletic clade. Moreover, network and genetic structure analyses failed to distinguish between wild and cultured populations. Although AMOVA analysis based on Tf alleles indicated genetic differentiation among all six populations, the majority of the genetic variation (92.00 %) was observed within populations. Furthermore, the population dynamics analysis suggested that these populations have maintained relative stability in recent history. Therefore, the elevated nucleotide diversity of Tf alleles in cultured populations, the ambiguous population structure, and the limited genetic divergence among the six Carassius populations highlighted the hybrid genetic characteristics of HFJ and NCRC. These findings, based on Tf alleles, differ from the results obtained using mitochondrial gene markers, providing an alternative perspective for germplasm evaluation of hybrid varieties and crucian carp breeding.

Sequential Reductive Dechlorination of Triclosan by Sediment Microbiota Harboring Organohalide-Respiring Dehalococcoidia.

Aquatic ecosystems represent a prominent reservoir of xenobiotic compounds, including triclosan (TCS), a broad-spectrum biocide extensively used in pharmaceuticals and personal care products. As a biogeochemical hotspot, the potential of aquatic sediments for the degradation of TCS remains largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrated anaerobic biotransformation of TCS in a batch microcosm established with freshwater sediment. The initial 43.4 ± 2.2 μM TCS was completely dechlorinated to diclosan, followed by subsequent conversion to 5-chloro-2-phenoxyphenol, a monochlorinated TCS (MCS) congener. Analyses of community profile and population dynamics revealed substrate-specific, temporal-growth of Dehalococcoides and Dehalogenimonas, which are organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB) affiliated with class Dehalococcoidia. Dehalococcoides growth was linked to the formation of diclosan but not MCS, yielding 3.6 ± 0.4 × 107 cells per μmol chloride released. A significant increase in Dehalogenimonas cells, from 1.5 ± 0.4 × 104 to 1.5 ± 0.3 × 106 mL-1, only occurred during the reductive dechlorination of diclosan to MCS. Dehalococcoidia OHRB gradually disappeared following consecutive transfers, likely due to the removal of sediment materials with strong adsorption capacity that could alleviate TCS's antimicrobial toxicity. Consequently, a solid-free, functionally stable TCS-dechlorinating consortium was not obtained. Our results provide insights into the microbial determinants controlling the environmental fate of TCS.

Seasonal occurrence of the shoot fly complex on Rabi sorghum in the Marathwada area of Maharashtra

The present study was conducted to investigate the variety and abundance of shoot flies in the Postgraduate Experimental Field, Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Latur Campus, Maharashtra, India, during rabi season 2020-21. Analysis of insect pest population dynamics indicated that Atherigona soccata attained its maximum population density during the 51st standard meteorological week, with an average of 3.60 maggots per quadrat. Correlation studies exhibited that wind speed had a detrimental impact on the population of A soccata maggots. During the first sampling period of the study, Oscinella sp. achieved its peak population density, with an average of 13.00 maggots per quadrat. Link tests revealed a positive link between the relative humidity before noon and the population of Oscinella sp., but a substantial negative correlation was seen between wind speed and the population. The population of Ectecephala sp. reached its highest level during the second sampling week, with an average of 2.33 maggots per quadrat. Correlation studies demonstrated a substantial negative correlation between wind speed and the population of Ectecephala sp.

SomaSeg: a robust neuron identification framework for two-photon imaging video

Objective.Accurate neuron identification is fundamental to the analysis of neuronal population dynamics and signal extraction in fluorescence videos. However, several factors such as severe imaging noise, out-of-focus neuropil contamination, and adjacent neuron overlap would impair the performance of neuron identification algorithms and lead to errors in neuron shape and calcium activity extraction, or ultimately compromise the reliability of analysis conclusions.Approach.To address these challenges, we developed a novel cascade framework named SomaSeg. This framework integrates Duffing denoising and neuropil contamination defogging for video enhancement, and an overlapping instance segmentation network for stacked neurons differentiating.Main results.Compared with the state-of-the-art neuron identification methods, both simulation and actual experimental results demonstrate that SomaSeg framework is robust to noise, insensitive to out-of-focus contamination and effective in dealing with overlapping neurons in actual complex imaging scenarios.Significance.The SomaSeg framework provides a widely applicable solution for two-photon video processing, which enhances the reliability of neuron identification and exhibits value in distinguishing visually confusing neurons.

Some maximum principles for parabolic mixed local/nonlocal operators

The goal of this paper is to establish new Maximum Principles for parabolic equations in the framework of mixed local/nonlocal operators. In particular, these results apply to the case of mixed local/nonlocal Neumann boundary conditions, as introduced by Dipierro, Proietti Lippi, and Valdinoci [Ann. Inst. H. Poincaré C Anal. Non Linéaire 40 (2023), pp. 1093–1166]. Moreover, they play an important role in the analysis of population dynamics involving the so-called Allee effect, which is performed by Dipierro, Proietti Lippi, and Valdinoci [J. Math. Biol. 89 (2024), Paper No. 19]. This is particularly relevant when studying biological populations, since the Allee effect detects a critical density below which the population is severely endangered and at risk of extinction.

Trend Analysis of Poultry production, population growth and distribution in Ethiopia

Ethiopia's poultry sector plays a vital role in agricultural development, food security, and rural livelihoods. Despite its importance, there remains limited understanding of the trends in poultry production, population growth, and distribution across the country. Hence, this manuscript presents a comprehensive trend analysis of poultry production, population dynamics, and distribution patterns in Ethiopia from 2004 to 2022. Data from the Central Statistical Agency (CSA) and FAOSTAT were analyzed using non-parametric statistical methods to assess trends in poultry production and population growth. The analysis reveals a consistent upward trend in the poultry population across various regions of Ethiopia except for a slight decrease observed in Addis Ababa during 2004-2007, with indigenous breeds dominating the landscape. Despite challenges such as disease outbreaks and limited commercialization, the poultry sector has experienced significant growth, driven by factors like population increase and shifting dietary preferences. The study also highlights increasing trends in egg and meat production, indicating the sector's potential for further expansion. Recommendations are provided for policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders to promote sustainable growth, enhance food security, and improve the livelihoods of poultry farmers in Ethiopia. Overall, the findings underscore the importance of continued investment and innovation in the poultry sector to realize its full potential in contributing to Ethiopia's agricultural development and economic prosperity.

Impact of novel methods and research approaches in plant pathology: Are individual advances sufficient to meet the wider challenges of disease management?

AbstractAdvances continue to be made by plant pathologists on topics in plant health, environmental protection and food security. Many advances have been made for individual crops, pathogens and diseases that in many cases have led to their successful management. A wider impact of research depends on recognition of the multifaceted challenges posed by plant diseases and the need to integrate studies in a systems level approach. The adoption of high‐throughput sequencing for diagnosis and detection is widespread but impact depends upon the agricultural and ecological context combined with improved surveillance. Deployment of host resistance in the field needs to be aligned with a greater appreciation of plant genetic diversity and the complementary contribution made by tolerance of disease. Epidemiological understanding of the spatiotemporal spread of plant diseases has improved through population dynamic and genetic analyses. Research emphasis on the plant microbiome has invigorated soil microbial studies, especially for disease complexes and declines, but the challenge is to move to interventions that benefit plant health. Analysis of the impacts of climate change has been made for single‐crop disease studies, but seldom have these been placed in the context of pathogen adaptation, new crops, wild plants, vectors and soil microbes. Advances in informatic analysis illustrate not only the global impacts of plant disease introductions, but also the challenges inherent in marshalling and integrating information. Advances have been made in applying artificial intelligence technologies across many areas of plant pathology but have yet to be integrated within any coordinated research agenda.

Population Status of the Endangered Semi-Mangrove Dolichandrone spathacea on Hainan Island, China

In China, Dolichandrone spathacea is a rare and endangered semi-mangrove plant species with an extremely small population, naturally distributed only in Zhanjiang City and the east coast of Hainan Island. Despite conservation concerns, the population status of D. spathacea has received little scientific attention. In this study, we evaluated the current status of D. spathacea on Hainan Island, China, in order to propose sustainable conservation strategies for future ecological restoration of its natural population. D. spathacea on Hainan Island can be divided into four populations. All the D. spathacea populations present a state of overall dispersion, local concentration, and occasionally sporadic existence, and they exist in geographical isolation. The young, middle, and old D. spathacea plants account for 20.42%, 66.20%, and 13.38%, respectively, indicating that the D. spathacea population on Hainan Island is declining. Furthermore, instead of temporal structure, we used diameter at breast height (DBH) to establish a static life table, draw a population survival curve, and quantify the future development trend through population dynamic analysis and time-series prediction. These results suggest that the D. spathacea population in the Bamen Gulf (Wenchang) and Qingmei Harbor (Sanya) on Hainan Island is sensitive to external disturbances and possesses two main increases in mortality rate—namely, in its juvenile and mature stages—due to competition and anthropogenic interferences, which might be the most important reasons for its endangered status. Depending on the current conditions of the D. spathacea population, we should conserve and expand mature trees in situ, preserve their germplasm resources, rehabilitate their habitats to promote provenance restoration, and conduct artificial cultivation and spreading planting in order to realize the sustainable conservation and management of D. spathacea.

Triggering Toll-Like Receptor 5 Signaling During Pneumococcal Superinfection Prevents the Selection of Antibiotic Resistance.

Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) signaling plays a key role in antibacterial defenses. We previously showed that respiratory administration of flagellin, a potent TLR5 agonist, in combination with amoxicillin (AMX) improves the treatment of primary pneumonia or superinfection caused by AMX-sensitive or AMX-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. Here, the impact of adjunct flagellin therapy on antibiotic dose/regimen and the selection of antibiotic-resistant S. pneumoniae was investigated using superinfection with isogenic antibiotic-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant bacteria and population dynamics analysis. Our findings demonstrate that flagellin allows for a 200-fold reduction in the antibiotic dose, achieving the same therapeutic effect observed with antibiotic alone. Adjunct treatment also reduced the selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in contrast to the antibiotic monotherapy. A mathematical model was developed that captured the population dynamics and estimated a 20-fold enhancement immune-modulatory factor on bacterial clearance. This work paves the way for the development of host-directed therapy and refinement of treatment by modeling.