Evolutionary approach for pollution study: The case of ionizing radiation.

Estimating the consequences of environmental changes, specifically in a global change context, is essential for conservation issues. In the case of pollutants, the interest in using an evolutionary approach to investigate their consequences has been emphasized since the 2000s, but these studies remain rare compared to the characterization of direct effects on individual features. We focused on the study case of anthropogenic ionizing radiation because, despite its potential strong impact on evolution, the scarcity of evolutionary approaches to study the biological consequences of this stressor is particularly true.

Unusual evolution of tree frog populations in the Chernobyl exclusion zone.

Despite the ubiquity of pollutants in the environment, their long-term ecological consequences are not always clear and still poorly studied. This is the case concerning the radioactive contamination of the environment following the major nuclear accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Notwithstanding the implications of evolutionary processes on the population status, few studies concern the evolution of organisms chronically exposed to ionizing radiation in the Chernobyl exclusion zone.

Towards unravelling the Rosette agent enigma: Spread and emergence of the co-invasive host-pathogen complex, Pseudorasbora parva-Sphaerothecum destruens.

The emergence of non-native fungal pathogens is a growing threat to global health, biodiversity, conservation biology, food security and the global economy. Moreover, a thorough understanding of the spread and emergence of pathogens among invasive and native host populations, as well as genetic analysis of the structure of co-invasive host populations, is crucial in terms of conservation biology and management strategies. Here we combined extensive catchment sampling, molecular detection tools and genomic signatures to i) assess the prevalence of the rosette agent Sphaerothecum destruens in invasive and native fish populations in contrasting french regions, and ii) characterize the genetic diversity and population structure of its co-invasive and asymptomatic carrier Pseudorasbora parva.

New type of magnetic structure in the RTX group: TbPdIn.

Anisotropy of bulk magnetic properties and magnetic structure studies of a TbPdIn single crystal by means of bulk magnetization methods and neutron diffraction techniques confirmed the antiferromagnetic order below the Néel temperature 29.5 K. The collinear magnetic structure of Tb magnetic moments aligned along the tetragonal-axis is characterized by a propagation vector= (1/4, 1/4, 1/2), yielding an equal-moment structure with alternating coupling between nearest as well as next-nearest Tb neighbors within the basal plane and antiferromagnetic coupling between the-axis neighbors.

Clinical application of targeted next-generation sequencing for colorectal cancer patients: a multicentric Belgian experience.

International guidelines made RAS (KRAS and NRAS) status a prerequisite for the use of anti-EGFR agents for metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Daily, new data emerges on the theranostic and prognostic role of molecular biomarkers; this is a strong incentive for a validated, sensitive, and broadly available molecular screening test. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has begun to supplant other technologies for genomic profiling.

(Nd/Pr)NiO: Reaction Intermediates and Redox Behavior Explored by in Situ Neutron Powder Diffraction during Electrochemical Oxygen Intercalation.

Oxygen intercalation/deintercalation in PrNiO and NdNiO was followed by in situ neutron powder diffraction during electrochemical oxidation/reduction, in a dedicated reaction cell at room temperature. For both systems three phases, all showing the same line width, were identified. The starting phases PrNiO and NdNiO, considered with an average orthorhombic Fmmm symmetry, although both show a slight monoclinic distortion, get reduced in a two-phase reaction step to tetragonal intermediate phases with 0.

A euryhaline fish, lost in the desert: The unexpected metapopulation structure of Coptodon guineensis (Günther, 1862) in the Sebkha of Imlili.

Euryhaline Cichlid fish of the species Coptodon guineensis are present in different water holes situated in a dried depression in the desert in the extreme South of Morocco, the Sebkha of Imlili. A genetic survey of this population, using complete sequences of the ND2 gene (mtDNA) and sixteen microsatellite loci, revealed that the fish in the sebkha did not form a single population, but rather a metapopulation. This metapopulational structure may be regarded as good news from the point of view of the conservation of fish in the sebkha.

Microbiota Diversity Within and Between the Tissues of Two Wild Interbreeding Species.

Understanding the role of microbiota as reproductive barriers or sources of adaptive novelty in the fundamental biological phenomenon of speciation is an exciting new challenge necessitating exploration of microbiota variation in wild interbreeding species. We focused on two interbreeding cyprinid species, Chondrostoma nasus and Parachondrostoma toxostoma, which have geographic distributions characterized by a mosaic of hybrid zones. We described microbiota diversity and composition in the three main teleost mucosal tissues, the skin, gills and gut, in the parental parapatric populations.

Challenges and advances for transcriptome assembly in non-model species.

Analyses of high-throughput transcriptome sequences of non-model organisms are based on two main approaches: de novo assembly and genome-guided assembly using mapping to assign reads prior to assembly. Given the limits of mapping reads to a reference when it is highly divergent, as is frequently the case for non-model species, we evaluate whether using blastn would outperform mapping methods for read assignment in such situations (>15% divergence). We demonstrate its high performance by using simulated reads of lengths corresponding to those generated by the most common sequencing platforms, and over a realistic range of genetic divergence (0% to 30% divergence).

Phase transitions and magnetic structures in MnW1-x Mo x O4 compounds (x ⩽ 0.2).

Temperature-dependent specific heat, magnetization and neutron diffraction data have been collected in zero magnetic field for polycrystalline samples of MnW1-x Mo x O4 (x  ⩽  0.2) solid solution whose end-member MnWO4 exhibits a magnetoelectric multiferroic phase (AF2 phase) between T 1  ≈  8 K and T 2  =  12.5 K.

Crystal structure of monoclinic calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (m-CPPD) involved in inflammatory reactions and osteoarthritis.

Pure monoclinic calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (m-CPPD) has been synthesized and characterized by synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction. Rietveld refinement of complementary diffraction data has, for the first time, allowed the crystal structure of m-CPPD to be solved. The monoclinic system P2(1)/n was confirmed and unit-cell parameters determined: a = 12.

When Anthropogenic River Disturbance Decreases Hybridisation between Non-Native and Endemic Cyprinids and Drives an Ecomorphological Displacement towards Juvenile State in Both Species.

Understanding the impact of non-native species on native species is a major challenge in molecular ecology, particularly for genetically compatible fish species. Invasions are generally difficult to study because their effects may be confused with those of environmental or human disturbances. Colonized ecosystems are differently impacted by human activities, resulting in diverse responses and interactions between native and non-native species.

Field evidence of reproduction impairment through sperm DNA damage in the fish nase (Chondrostoma nasus) in anthropized hydrosystems.

This work aims to explore in the field the relationship between the integrity of sperm DNA and the quality of offspring as a possible cause of the decline of a feral fish population through reproduction impairment. Mature nase (Chondrostoma nasus) were caught during the breeding season in three locations (A-C) of the Rhône River basin and gametes collected by stripping. Sampling locations were chosen according to the following gradient of contamination due to human activities on the watershed: A≤B View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Evolutionary history of Chaetognatha inferred from molecular and morphological data: a case study for body plan simplification.

Background: Chaetognatha are a phylum of marine carnivorous animals which includes more than 130 extant species. The internal systematics of this group have been intensively debated since it was discovered in the 18(th) century. While they can be traced back to the earlier Cambrian, they are an extraordinarily homogeneous phylum at the morphological level - a fascinating characteristic that puzzled many a scientist who has tried to clarify their taxonomy.

QDD version 3.1: a user-friendly computer program for microsatellite selection and primer design revisited: experimental validation of variables determining genotyping success rate.

Microsatellite marker development has been greatly simplified by the use of high-throughput sequencing followed by in silico microsatellite detection and primer design. However, the selection of markers designed by the existing pipelines depends either on arbitrary criteria, or older studies on PCR success. Based on wet laboratory experiments, we have identified the following factors that are most likely to influence genotyping success rate: alignment score between the primers and the amplicon; the distance between primers and microsatellites; the length of the PCR product; target region complexity and the number of reads underlying the sequence.

Genomic Porosity between Invasive Chondrostoma nasus and Endangered Endemic Parachondrostoma toxostoma (Cyprinidae): The Evolution of MHC IIB Genes.

Two cyprinid species, Parachondrostoma toxostoma, an endemic threatened species, and Chondrostoma nasus, an invasive species, live in sympatry in southern France and form two sympatric zones where the presence of intergeneric hybrids is reported. To estimate the potential threat to endemic species linked to the introduction of invasive species, we focused on the DAB genes (functional MHC IIB genes) because of their adaptive significance and role in parasite resistance. More specifically, we investigated (1) the variability of MHC IIB genes, (2) the selection pattern shaping MHC polymorphism, and (3) the extent to which trans-species evolution and intergeneric hybridization affect MHC polymorphism.

Non-homogeneous combination of two porous genomes induces complex body shape trajectories in cyprinid hybrids.

Introduction: Hybridization is a common phenomenon in fish and is considered to be a major source of diversification. Deciphering the remoulding of genomic regions and phenotypes in zones where hybrid specimens occur is of particular interest to elucidate the emergence of evolutionary novelties. This approach is particularly challenging because the first step of hybridization seems to be the most important stage in the emergence of hybrid lineages.

Human papillomavirus predicts the outcome following concomitant chemoradiotherapy in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

We investigated the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in a clinical series of 72 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) using a retrospective and prospective study design. The majority of patients were smokers and/or drinkers and were treated with concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCR). Furthermore, we assessed the impact of HPV positivity on the response to CCR.

Phylogenetic analysis of Thecosomata Blainville, 1824 (holoplanktonic opisthobranchia) using morphological and molecular data.

Thecosomata is a marine zooplankton group, which played an important role in the carbonate cycle in oceans due to their shell composition. So far, there is important discrepancy between the previous morphological-based taxonomies, and subsequently the evolutionary history of Thecosomata. In this study, the remarkable planktonic sampling of TARA Oceans expedition associated with a set of various other missions allowed us to assess the phylogenetic relationships of Thecosomata using morphological and molecular data (28 S and COI genes).

Study of the magnetic and electronic properties of nanocrystalline PrCo3 by neutron powder diffraction and density functional theory.

Nanocrystalline PrCo(3) powder has been synthesized by high-energy milling and was subsequently annealed from 873 to 1273 K for 30 min to optimize the extrinsic properties. The structure and magnetic properties of the nanocrystalline PrCo(3) have been investigated by means of x-ray and neutron diffraction as well as magnetization measurements. All compounds crystallize in the same PuNi(3) type structure, with grain sizes between 28 and 47 nm.

Does invasive Chondrostoma nasus shift the parasite community structure of endemic Parachondrostoma toxostoma in sympatric zones?

Background: The composition of parasite communities in two cyprinid species in southern France - native and threatened Parachondrostoma toxostoma and introduced Chondrostoma nasus - was investigated. In sympatry, these two species form two hybrid zones in the Durance and Ardeche Rivers. Due to their different feeding preference and habitat positions in allopatry, we supposed a difference in parasite communities between fish species.

Mixed metallic Ba(Co,Fe)X(0.2)O(3-δ) (X = F, Cl) hexagonal perovskites: drastic effect of Fe-incorporation on structural and electronic features.

Starting from the parent 10H-Ba(5)Co(5)X(1-x)O(13-δ) (trimeric strings of face-sharing CoO(6) octahedra with terminal CoO(4) tetrahedra, stacking sequence (chhch')(2)) and 6H-Ba(6)Co(6)X(1-x)O(16-δ) (similar with tetrameric strings, stacking sequence chhhch') hexagonal perovskites forms (X = F, Cl; c, h = [BaO(3)] layers ; h' = [BaOX(1-y)] layers), we show here that the Fe incorporation leads to large domains of solid solutions for both X = F and Cl but exclusively stabilizes the 10H-form independently of the synthesis method. In this form, the lowest concentration of h-layers is stabilized by a sensitive metal reduction with increasing the Fe ratio. In a more general context of competition between several hexagonal perovskite polymorphs available for most of the transition metals, this redox change is most probably the key factor driving 1D (face-sharing chains) to 3D (corner-sharing) connectivities.