The genome sequence of the whiskered bat, (Kuhl, 1817).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male (whiskered bat; Chordata; Mammalia; Chiroptera; Vespertilionidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 2,081.20 megabases.

Demonstrating a measurement protocol for studying comparative whisker movements with implications for the evolution of behaviour.

Background: Studying natural, complex behaviours over a range of different species provides insights into the evolution of the brain and behaviour. Whisker movements reveal complex behaviours; however, there does not yet exist a protocol that is able to capture whisker movements and behaviours in a range of different species.

New Method: We develop a new protocol and make recommendations for measuring comparative whisker movements and behaviours.

Parasites, Drugs and Captivity: -Microbiome Associations in Captive Water Voles.

(1) Background: is a microbial eukaryote inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract of a broad range of animals including humans. Several studies have shown that the organism is associated with specific microbial profiles and bacterial taxa that have been deemed beneficial to intestinal and overall health. Nonetheless, these studies are focused almost exclusively on humans, while there is no similar information on other animals.

Investigating cat predation as the cause of bat wing tears using forensic DNA analysis.

Cat predation upon bat species has been reported to have significant effects on bat populations in both rural and urban areas. The majority of research in this area has focussed on observational data from bat rehabilitators documenting injuries, and cat owners, when domestic cats present prey. However, this has the potential to underestimate the number of bats killed or injured by cats.

Synthetic analogues of the manzamenones and plakoridines which inhibit DNA polymerase.

An array of novel analogues of the marine oxylipins, the manzamenones and plakoridines, have been prepared in divergent fashion using an approach modelled on a biogenetic theory. Many of the target compounds show potent inhibition of DNA polymerases alpha and beta and human terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT).