RT-QuIC is a shaking-based cyclic amplification technique originally developed in the prion field to detect minute amounts of scrapie prion protein (PrPSc). In this study, we applied the RT-QuIC assay to investigate a-synuclein (a-syn) seeding activity in brains of Dementia with Lewy Body (DLB) patients and in brains of G2-3 transgenic mice expressing human a-syn with A53T mutation. The results show

Chronic wasting disease is a progressively fatal, horizontally transmissible prion disease affecting several members of the cervid species. Conventional diagnosis relies on ELISA or IHC evaluation using tissues collected post-mortem; however, recent research has focused on newly developed amplification techniques using samples collected antemortem. The present study sought to cross-validate the real-time

We previously discovered three carbazole derivatives, GJP14 (1-piperidinylmethyl-2-(1-oxo-6-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazol-9-yl)-ethan-1-ol) with anti-prion activity, GJC29 (benzylamino-3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazol-9-yl)-propan-2-ol) with anti-cancer activity, and THC19 (1-piperidinylmethyl-2-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarnazol-9-yl)-ethan-1-ol) with anti-influenza virus activity. During optimization of

Adult neurogenesis, analogous to early development, is comprised of several, often concomitant, processes including proliferation, differentiation, and formation of synaptic connections. However, due to continual, asynchronous turn-over, newly-born adult olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) must integrate into existing circuitry. Additionally, OSNs express high levels of cellular prion protein (PrPC),

How can we test whether biogeographic dispersal rates coincide with geologic events? Hua and Bromham (2020) developed a model‐based approach to generate a null distribution of colonization times under constant dispersal rates, overcoming a problem related to the geometry of phylogenetic trees.

The skeleton is a complex arrangement of anatomical structures that covary to various degrees depending on both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Among the Feliformia, many species are characterized by predator lifestyles providing a unique opportunity to investigate the impact of highly specialised hypercarnivorous diet on phenotypic integration and shape diversity. To do so, we compared the shape

A tenet of evolutionary theory is that phenotypic variation of a trait is inversely related to the intensity of stabilizing selection pressure. Among homologous bones, such as metapodials, a rudimentary, “nonfunctional” bone is expected to be more variable in length than nonrudimentary bones. This study compares variation and association in length among metapodials using 277 adult skeletons of Canis

Competition for limiting resources and stress can magnify variance in fitness and therefore selection. But even in a common environment, the strength of selection can differ across the sexes, as their fitness is often limited by different factors. Indeed, most taxa show stronger selection in males, a bias often ascribed to intense competition for access to mating partners. This sex bias could reverberate

In this work, diffuse near‐infrared light reflectance spectroscopy based on a single optical probe, contains central single collection fiber surrounded by a circular array of illumination fibers, was used to quantify cerebral tissue properties in ApoE knockout mice following Sarcopoterium spinosum treatment. Sarcopoterium spinosum, also known as Thorny burnet, is a Mediterranean plant widely used as

Hybridisation and admixture can threaten the genetic integrity of populations and be of particular concern to endangered species. Hybridisation between grey wolves and dogs has been documented in many wolf populations worldwide and is a prominent example of human‐mediated hybridisation between a domesticated species and its wild relative. We analysed whole‐genome sequences from >200 wolves and >100

Urgent conservation action for terminally endangered species is sometimes hampered by taxonomic uncertainty, especially in illegally traded animals that are often cross‐bred in captivity. To overcome these problems, we used a genomic approach to analyze historical DNA from museum samples across the Asian Pied Starling (Gracupica contra) complex in tropical Asia, a popular victim of the ongoing songbird

Increasing human disturbance and climate change have a major impact on habitat integrity and size, with far‐reaching consequences for wild fauna and flora. Specifically, population decline and habitat fragmentation result in small, isolated populations. To what extend different endangered species can cope with small population size is still largely unknown. Studies on the genomic landscape of these

Gut microbiomes play an essential role in host survival and local adaptation, and thus can facilitate the invasion of host species. Biological invasions have been shown to be linked to the genetic properties of alien host species. It is thus plausible that the holobiont, the host, and its associated microbiome act as an entity to drive invasion success. The bighead carp and silver carp (bigheaded carps)

Natural history collections provide an unparalleled resource for documenting population responses to past anthropogenic change. However, in many cases, traits measured on specimens may vary temporally in response to a number of different anthropogenic pressures or demographic processes. While teasing apart these different drivers is challenging, approaches that integrate analyses of spatial and temporal

Long‐term monitoring of forest understorey species was used to describe changes in native and invasive exotic plant abundances over time within different disturbed or undisturbed forest types. This information was then used to determine the predictive invasion model (passenger/opportunist, driver or back‐seat driver).

Species distribution models (SDMs) are valuable for rare species conservation and are commonly used to extrapolate predictions of habitat suitability geographically to regions where species occurrence is unknown (i.e., transferability). Spatially structured cross‐validation can be used to infer transferability, yet, few studies have evaluated how delineation of cross‐validation folds affects model

In mice, a tri‐layered (superficial, intermediate, and deep) vascular structure is formed in the retina during the third postnatal week. Short‐term treatment of newborn mice with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor inhibitors delays the formation of superficial vascular plexus and this allows us to investigate the developmental process of superficial and deep vascular plexuses at the

Salamander limb regeneration is a complex biological process that entails the orchestration of multiple cellular and molecular mechanisms in a three‐dimensional space. Hence, a comprehensive understanding of this process requires whole‐structure level explorations. Recent advances in imaging and optical clearing methods have transformed the study of regenerative phenomena, allowing the three‐dimensional

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a fundamental component of multicellular organisms that orchestrates developmental processes and controls cell and tissue organization. We previously identified the novel ECM protein SNED1 as a promoter of breast cancer metastasis and showed that its level of expression negatively correlated with breast cancer patient survival. Here, we sought to identify the roles

Previous studies showed that mice lacking Fgf18 function had cleft palate defects and that the FGF18 locus was associated with cleft lip and palate in humans, but what specific roles Fgf18 plays during palatogenesis are unclear.

Both arginine (Arg) and its precursor citrulline (Cit) have received much interest during the past two decades because of their potential effects on whole‐body nitric oxide (NO) production and augmentation of NO‐dependent signaling pathways. However, the usefulness of Arg supplementation for NO production is questionable due to its high splanchnic first‐pass metabolism (FPM), which limits its systemic

Mitochondria are multifaceted organelles representing the “powerhouse of cells” for their function as bioenergetics and biosynthetic hubs. In addition, they play an essential role in the regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses, including host defenses against viruses, as well as in inflammatory responses 1. This peculiar role of mitochondria is principally due to the activation of adaptor

Demographic parameters provide baselines to estimate future population trajectories which can then be used in management decisions. The aim here was to estimate demographic parameters of long‐finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) from the Strait of Gibraltar by fitting mark‐recapture models to photo‐identification data of primary and secondary marked individuals. These parameters were used to forecast

Understanding the effectiveness of harvest regulations to manipulate population abundances is a priority for wildlife managers, and reliable methods are needed to monitor populations. This is particularly true in controversial situations such as integrated carnivore‐ungulate management. We used an observational before‐after‐control‐treatment approach to evaluate a case study in west‐central Montana

The effect of the environment on fitness in natural populations is a fundamental question in evolutionary biology. However, experimental manipulations of both environment and phenotype at the same time are rare. Thus, the relative importance of the competitive environment versus intrinsic organismal performance in shaping the location, height, and fluidity of fitness peaks and valleys remains largely

Most Dengue virus (DENV) infections remain asymptomatic. This increases the risk of DENV transfusion transmission (TT‐DENV) during outbreaks. We evaluated DENV viremia in 8,475 blood donations assembled in minipools for the presence of DENV RNA. The tested samples were obtained between February‐May, 2016, during a large DENV outbreak in Ribeirão Preto city, northeast region of the São Paulo State,

Cutaneous warts are infectious disorders caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). A recent study revealed that the HPV genotype influences the natural course and response to treatment for plantar warts, suggesting that HPV genotyping could potentially be used to optimize wart treatment schemes. For this purpose, a wart‐associated HPV genotyping assay was developed.

“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID‐19,” President Trump tweeted on 2 October 2020 (https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1311892190680014849).

While the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) continues to wreak havoc, there is little known about the susceptibility of the livestock and companion animals relative to humans. Here, we explore the susceptibility of companion and agricultural animals, in the light of the existing information on natural infections, experimental

Current evidence suggests that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), is predominantly transmitted from human‐to‐human. However, evidence on vertical transmission and natural passive immunity among the newborns exposed to COVID‐19 is scanty and varies. This poses a challenge on preventive interventions for the newborns. We conducted a

Paucity of knowledge about SARS‐CoV‐2 specific virulence factors has greatly hampered therapeutic management of patients with COVID‐19. Recently, a cluster of studies appeared, which presented empirical evidence for SARS‐CoV‐2 specific virulence factors that can explain key elements of COVID‐19 pathology. These studies unravel multiple structural and non‐structural specifics of SARS‐CoV‐2, such as

The new coronavirus SARS‐CoV‐2 causes asymptomatic infections to severe conditions, which has been revealed as a systemic disease. It is transmitted through respiratory droplets and contact, however other routes as airborne transmission have been suggested. Measures to prevent transmission are the bases to control the pandemic. We report a case of hematuria in which SARS‐CoV‐2 was detected by RT‐PCR

The unprecedented demand for testing for the ongoing coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 has led to an acute shortage and limited availability of test reagents for which pooling of samples has been recommended in areas with low prevalence. Considering the possibility of dilution factor in pool testing, an attempt was made to find out possibility of any true positive sample/s

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has rapidly evolved into a global pandemic.

In December 2019 a new viral infectious disease caused by severe acute syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) broke out causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), emerging in China.1-3 The disease spread in Europe including Italy since February 2020. The transmission of the infection occurs mainly through salivary droplets. The diagnosis is made by a nasal‐pharyngeal swab test using quantitative reverse

Nowadays the forgery of cultural heritage is on the rise, damaging the patrimony and its cultural value. Objects of value may still be unveiled at various construction sites or by other digging actions. Such objects will always raise questions about their authenticity because they were not unveiled by experts. Such findings will need to be analysed in order to establish their authenticity. The present

Subsequent to their introduction in the 1950s, Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus have been able to establish a self‐sustaining population that has adapted to the unique conditions of the Kerguelen Islands in the sub‐Antarctic. Here, 48 individuals (198‐415 mm) were caught with gillnets and their basic biology and feeding ecology were examined using stable isotope analysis. The Lac des Fougères population

Scorpaeniformes are an important component of commercial and recreational fisheries world‐wide. The Neosebastes species, found in the western Pacific and south‐east Indian Ocean, have received little attention from a research perspective. Samples of the bighead gurnard perch, Neosebastes pandus, collected from the lower west and south coasts of Western Australia, were used to undertake the first comprehensive

The elasmoid scales of anadromous sea trout Salmo trutta L. represent a significant internal reservoir of Ca2+. Although more is known about long‐term remodelling of scales in response to calciotropic challenges encountered during smoltification and migration, very little is known about the contribution made by scales to the short‐term, minute‐to‐minute regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis in the extracellular

Variation in circulus spacing on the scales of wild Atlantic salmon is indicative of changes in body length growth rate. We analyzed scale circulus spacing during the post‐smolt growth period for adult one sea‐winter salmon (n = 1947) returning to Scotland over the period 1993–2011. The growth pattern of the scales was subjectively and visually categorized according to the occurrence and zonal sequence

Sandelia bainsii is a range‐restricted and highly threatened freshwater fish endemic to South Africa. Recent genetic evidence suggests that this species comprises three allopatrically distributed lineages that have been informally designated as Sandelia sp. “Kowie,” Sandelia sp. “Keiskamma” and Sandelia sp. “Buffalo.” As these lineages have only been recently identified and are likely to face a high

Here we describe massive spawning aggregations and seasonal changes in the large‐scale distribution of the Patagonian grouper Acanthistius patachonicus in the Southwest Atlantic based on three sources of information: (a) data from bottom trawl research surveys covering the distributional range of the species within the Argentine continental shelf; (b) folk ecological knowledge gathered from experienced

Loricaria cuffyi n. sp. is described based on 36 specimens from the Essequibo and upper Negro River drainages in western Guyana and the upper Orinoco River drainage in Venezuela. The new species can be distinguished from sympatric and geographically proximate congeners by a postorbital notch that is inconspicuous, shallow and rounded, odontode ridges on the dorsum of head and predorsal weakly developed

We sought to investigate associations between maternal/infant characteristics and isolated craniosynostosis as well as its subtypes sagittal, metopic, and coronal synostosis, and assess trends in the prevalence of these conditions.

Whether annual evapotranspiration of native ecosystems is increasing or decreasing with time as CO2 concentrations are rising, the climate is warming and rainfall experiences booms and busts, remains an unanswered question in the field of global change biology. To answer this question, we measured evapotranspiration and carbon dioxide exchange over and under an oak savanna and over an annual grassland

Globally, grasslands are shaped by fire and herbivory, and grassland plants are adapted to these disturbances. However, temperate grasslands have been hotspots of land‐use change, and how such changes affect interrelations between herbivory, fire and vegetation are poorly understood. Such land‐use changes are widespread on the Eurasian steppe, where the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 triggered

Temperature has numerous effects on the structure and dynamics of ecological communities. Yet, there is no general trend or consensus on the magnitude and directions of these effects. To fill this gap, we propose a mechanistic framework based on key biological rates that predicts how temperature influences biomass distribution and trophic control in food webs. We show that these predictions arise from

Fine‐scale topography and canopy cover can play an important role in mediating effects of regional‐scale climate change on the below‐canopy environment in mountain forests. The aim of this study was to determine how below‐canopy temperatures in a high‐elevation Rocky Mountain forest have been affected by canopy change resulting from severe wildfire and spruce beetle outbreak within the last 10–15 years

The eco‐geographical Bergmann's rule predicts that animals have smaller body size in warmer regions than in cold environments because of thermoregulatory reasons. Although this rule has been widely investigated, intraspecific analyses on cosmopolitan taxa are rare. We examined whether geographical variation in wing length, a proxy of body size, shows a Bergmannian pattern and can be explained by three