PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: IOCBIO Sparks detection and analysis software
items: Comparative analysis and characterization of the gut microbiota of four farmed snakes from southern China
items: Music-performance regulates microRNAs in professional musicians
items: Green potential of Pleurotus spp. in biotechnology
items: Transcriptional factor regulation network and competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network determining response of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
items: Using opportunistic sightings to infer differential spatio-temporal use of western Mediterranean waters by the fin whale
items: Up-regulation of Grb2-associated binder 1 promotes hepatocyte growth factor-induced endothelial progenitor cell proliferation and migration
items: Factors that influence response classifications in chemotherapy treated patient-derived xenografts (PDX)
items: Evaluation of a toxoid fusion protein vaccine produced in plants to protect poultry against necrotic enteritis
items: Underwater sound production varies within not between species in sympatric newts

IOCBIO Sparks detection and analysis software
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Analysis of calcium sparks in cardiomyocytes can provide valuable information about functional changes of calcium handling in health and disease. As a part of the calcium sparks analysis, sparks detection and characterization is necessary. Here, we describe a new open-source platform for automatic calcium sparks detection from line scan confocal images. The developed software is tailored for detecting only calcium sparks, allowing us to design a graphical user interface specifically for this task. The software enables detecting sparks automatically as well as adding, removing, or adjusting regions of interest marking each spark. The results of the analysis are stored in an SQL database, allowing simple integration with statistical tools. We have analyzed the performance of the algorithm using a large set of synthetic images with varying spark sizes and noise levels and also compared the analysis results with results obtained by software established in the field. The use of our software is illustrated by an analysis of the effect of isoprenaline (ISO) on spark frequency, amplitude, and spatial and temporal characteristics. For that, cardiomyocytes from C57BL/6 mice were used. We demonstrated an increase in spark frequency, tendency of having larger spark amplitudes, sparks with a longer duration, and occurrence of multiple sparks from the same site in the presence of ISO. We also show that the duration and the width of sparks with the same amplitude were similar in the absence and presence of ISO. The software was released as an open source repository and is available for free use and collaborative development.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Martin Laasmaa
creator: Niina Karro
creator: Rikke Birkedal
creator: Marko Vendelin
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Biophysics
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Computational Biology
subject: Cardiology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6652
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Laasmaa et al.
abstract: Analysis of calcium sparks in cardiomyocytes can provide valuable information about functional changes of calcium handling in health and disease. As a part of the calcium sparks analysis, sparks detection and characterization is necessary. Here, we describe a new open-source platform for automatic calcium sparks detection from line scan confocal images. The developed software is tailored for detecting only calcium sparks, allowing us to design a graphical user interface specifically for this task. The software enables detecting sparks automatically as well as adding, removing, or adjusting regions of interest marking each spark. The results of the analysis are stored in an SQL database, allowing simple integration with statistical tools. We have analyzed the performance of the algorithm using a large set of synthetic images with varying spark sizes and noise levels and also compared the analysis results with results obtained by software established in the field. The use of our software is illustrated by an analysis of the effect of isoprenaline (ISO) on spark frequency, amplitude, and spatial and temporal characteristics. For that, cardiomyocytes from C57BL/6 mice were used. We demonstrated an increase in spark frequency, tendency of having larger spark amplitudes, sparks with a longer duration, and occurrence of multiple sparks from the same site in the presence of ISO. We also show that the duration and the width of sparks with the same amplitude were similar in the absence and presence of ISO. The software was released as an open source repository and is available for free use and collaborative development.
bibliographic citation: Laasmaa et al. (2019) IOCBIO Sparks detection and analysis software. PeerJ 7:e6652 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6652
date submitted: 2019-01-07
date accepted: 2019-02-19
issued: 2019-03-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Laasmaa
  given name: Martin
author list: Agent
  family name: Karro
  given name: Niina
author list: Agent
  family name: Birkedal
  given name: Rikke
author list: Agent
  family name: Vendelin
  given name: Marko
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6652
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-03-29
copyright: © 2019 Laasmaa et al.
attribution name: Laasmaa et al.

Comparative analysis and characterization of the gut microbiota of four farmed snakes from southern China
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The gut microbiota plays an important role in host immunity and metabolic homeostasis. Although analyses of gut microbiotas have been used to assess host health and foster disease prevention and treatment, no comparative comprehensive study, assessing gut microbiotas among several species of farmed snake, is yet available. In this study, we characterized and compared the gut microbiotas of four species of farmed snakes (Naja atra, Ptyas mucosa, Elaphe carinata, and Deinagkistrodon acutus) using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene in southern China and tested whether there was a relationship between gut microbiotal composition and host species. Results A total of 629 operational taxonomic units across 22 samples were detected. The five most abundant phyla were Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, and Actinobacteria, while the five most abundant genera were Bacteroides, Cetobacterium, Clostridium, Plesiomonas, and Paeniclostridium. This was the first report of the dominance of Fusobacteria and Cetobacterium in the snake gut. Our phylogenetic analysis recovered a relatively close relationship between Fusobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Alpha diversity analysis indicated that species richness and diversity were highest in the gut microbiota of D. acutus and lowest in that of E. carinata. Significant differences in alpha diversity were detected among the four farmed snake species. The gut microbiotas of conspecifics were more similar to each other than to those of heterospecifics. Conclusion This study provides the first comparative study of gut microbiotas among several species of farmed snakes, and provides valuable data for the management of farmed snakes. In farmed snakes, host species affected the species composition and diversity of the gut microbiota.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Bing Zhang
creator: Jing Ren
creator: Daode Yang
creator: Shuoran Liu
creator: Xinguo Gong
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Microbiology
subject: Veterinary Medicine
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6658
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Zhang et al.
abstract: Background The gut microbiota plays an important role in host immunity and metabolic homeostasis. Although analyses of gut microbiotas have been used to assess host health and foster disease prevention and treatment, no comparative comprehensive study, assessing gut microbiotas among several species of farmed snake, is yet available. In this study, we characterized and compared the gut microbiotas of four species of farmed snakes (Naja atra, Ptyas mucosa, Elaphe carinata, and Deinagkistrodon acutus) using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene in southern China and tested whether there was a relationship between gut microbiotal composition and host species. Results A total of 629 operational taxonomic units across 22 samples were detected. The five most abundant phyla were Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, and Actinobacteria, while the five most abundant genera were Bacteroides, Cetobacterium, Clostridium, Plesiomonas, and Paeniclostridium. This was the first report of the dominance of Fusobacteria and Cetobacterium in the snake gut. Our phylogenetic analysis recovered a relatively close relationship between Fusobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Alpha diversity analysis indicated that species richness and diversity were highest in the gut microbiota of D. acutus and lowest in that of E. carinata. Significant differences in alpha diversity were detected among the four farmed snake species. The gut microbiotas of conspecifics were more similar to each other than to those of heterospecifics. Conclusion This study provides the first comparative study of gut microbiotas among several species of farmed snakes, and provides valuable data for the management of farmed snakes. In farmed snakes, host species affected the species composition and diversity of the gut microbiota.
bibliographic citation: Zhang et al. (2019) Comparative analysis and characterization of the gut microbiota of four farmed snakes from southern China. PeerJ 7:e6658 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6658
date submitted: 2018-09-11
date accepted: 2019-02-22
issued: 2019-03-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Bing
author list: Agent
  family name: Ren
  given name: Jing
author list: Agent
  family name: Yang
  given name: Daode
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Shuoran
author list: Agent
  family name: Gong
  given name: Xinguo
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6658
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-03-29
copyright: © 2019 Zhang et al.
attribution name: Zhang et al.

Music-performance regulates microRNAs in professional musicians
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Musical training and performance require precise integration of multisensory and motor centres of the human brain and can be regarded as an epigenetic modifier of brain functions. Numerous studies have identified structural and functional differences between the brains of musicians and non-musicians and superior cognitive functions in musicians. Recently, music-listening and performance has also been shown to affect the regulation of several genes, many of which were identified in songbird singing. MicroRNAs affect gene regulation and studying their expression may give new insights into the epigenetic effect of music. Here, we studied the effect of 2 hours of classical music-performance on the peripheral blood microRNA expressions in professional musicians with respect to a control activity without music for the same duration. As detecting transcriptomic changes in the functional human brain remains a challenge for geneticists, we used peripheral blood to study music-performance induced microRNA changes and interpreted the results in terms of potential effects on brain function, based on the current knowledge about the microRNA function in blood and brain. We identified significant (FDR <0.05) up-regulation of five microRNAs; hsa-miR-3909, hsa-miR-30d-5p, hsa-miR-92a-3p, hsa-miR-222-3p and hsa-miR-30a-5p; and down-regulation of two microRNAs; hsa-miR-6803-3p and hsa-miR-1249-3p. hsa-miR-222-3p and hsa-miR-92a-3p putatively target FOXP2, which was found down-regulated by microRNA regulation in songbird singing. miR-30d and miR-222 corroborate microRNA response observed in zebra finch song-listening/learning. miR-222 is induced by ERK cascade, which is important for memory formation, motor neuron functions and neuronal plasticity. miR-222 is also activated by FOSL1, an immediate early gene from the FOS family of transcriptional regulators which are activated by auditory-motor stimuli. miR-222 and miR-92 promote neurite outgrowth by negatively regulating the neuronal g…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Preethy Sasidharan Nair
creator: Tuire Kuusi
creator: Minna Ahvenainen
creator: Anju K. Philips
creator: Irma Järvelä
subject: Genetics
subject: Genomics
subject: Neuroscience
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6660
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Nair et al.
abstract: Musical training and performance require precise integration of multisensory and motor centres of the human brain and can be regarded as an epigenetic modifier of brain functions. Numerous studies have identified structural and functional differences between the brains of musicians and non-musicians and superior cognitive functions in musicians. Recently, music-listening and performance has also been shown to affect the regulation of several genes, many of which were identified in songbird singing. MicroRNAs affect gene regulation and studying their expression may give new insights into the epigenetic effect of music. Here, we studied the effect of 2 hours of classical music-performance on the peripheral blood microRNA expressions in professional musicians with respect to a control activity without music for the same duration. As detecting transcriptomic changes in the functional human brain remains a challenge for geneticists, we used peripheral blood to study music-performance induced microRNA changes and interpreted the results in terms of potential effects on brain function, based on the current knowledge about the microRNA function in blood and brain. We identified significant (FDR <0.05) up-regulation of five microRNAs; hsa-miR-3909, hsa-miR-30d-5p, hsa-miR-92a-3p, hsa-miR-222-3p and hsa-miR-30a-5p; and down-regulation of two microRNAs; hsa-miR-6803-3p and hsa-miR-1249-3p. hsa-miR-222-3p and hsa-miR-92a-3p putatively target FOXP2, which was found down-regulated by microRNA regulation in songbird singing. miR-30d and miR-222 corroborate microRNA response observed in zebra finch song-listening/learning. miR-222 is induced by ERK cascade, which is important for memory formation, motor neuron functions and neuronal plasticity. miR-222 is also activated by FOSL1, an immediate early gene from the FOS family of transcriptional regulators which are activated by auditory-motor stimuli. miR-222 and miR-92 promote neurite outgrowth by negatively regulating the neuronal g…
bibliographic citation: Nair et al. (2019) Music-performance regulates microRNAs in professional musicians. PeerJ 7:e6660 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6660
date submitted: 2018-06-13
date accepted: 2019-02-19
issued: 2019-03-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Nair
  given name: Preethy Sasidharan
author list: Agent
  family name: Kuusi
  given name: Tuire
author list: Agent
  family name: Ahvenainen
  given name: Minna
author list: Agent
  family name: Philips
  given name: Anju K.
author list: Agent
  family name: Järvelä
  given name: Irma
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6660
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-03-29
copyright: © 2019 Nair et al.
attribution name: Nair et al.

Green potential of Pleurotus spp. in biotechnology
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The genus Pleurotus is most exploitable xylotrophic fungi, with valuable biotechnological, medical, and nutritional properties. The relevant features of the representatives of this genus to provide attractive low-cost industrial tools have been reported in numerous studies to resolve the pressure of ecological issues. Additionally, a number of Pleurotus species are highly adaptive, do not require any special conditions for growth, and possess specific resistance to contaminating diseases and pests. The unique properties of Pleurotus species widely used in many environmental technologies, such as organic solid waste recycling, chemical pollutant degradation, and bioethanol production. Methodology The literature study encompasses peer-reviewed journals identified by systematic searches of electronic databases such as Google Scholar, NCBI, Springer, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, and ISI Web of Knowledge. The search scheme was divided into several steps, as described below. Results In this review, we describe studies examining the biotechnological feasibility of Pleurotus spp. to elucidate the importance of this genus for use in green technology. Here, we review areas of application of the genus Pleurotus as a prospective biotechnological tool. Conclusion The incomplete description of some fungal biochemical pathways emphasises the future research goals for this fungal culture.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Alona S. Sekan
creator: Olena S. Myronycheva
creator: Olov Karlsson
creator: Andrii P. Gryganskyi
creator: Yaroslav Blume
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Mycology
subject: Environmental Contamination and Remediation
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6664
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Sekan et al.
abstract: Background The genus Pleurotus is most exploitable xylotrophic fungi, with valuable biotechnological, medical, and nutritional properties. The relevant features of the representatives of this genus to provide attractive low-cost industrial tools have been reported in numerous studies to resolve the pressure of ecological issues. Additionally, a number of Pleurotus species are highly adaptive, do not require any special conditions for growth, and possess specific resistance to contaminating diseases and pests. The unique properties of Pleurotus species widely used in many environmental technologies, such as organic solid waste recycling, chemical pollutant degradation, and bioethanol production. Methodology The literature study encompasses peer-reviewed journals identified by systematic searches of electronic databases such as Google Scholar, NCBI, Springer, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, and ISI Web of Knowledge. The search scheme was divided into several steps, as described below. Results In this review, we describe studies examining the biotechnological feasibility of Pleurotus spp. to elucidate the importance of this genus for use in green technology. Here, we review areas of application of the genus Pleurotus as a prospective biotechnological tool. Conclusion The incomplete description of some fungal biochemical pathways emphasises the future research goals for this fungal culture.
bibliographic citation: Sekan et al. (2019) Green potential of Pleurotus spp. in biotechnology. PeerJ 7:e6664 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6664
date submitted: 2018-09-07
date accepted: 2019-02-22
issued: 2019-03-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Sekan
  given name: Alona S.
author list: Agent
  family name: Myronycheva
  given name: Olena S.
author list: Agent
  family name: Karlsson
  given name: Olov
author list: Agent
  family name: Gryganskyi
  given name: Andrii P.
author list: Agent
  family name: Blume
  given name: Yaroslav
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6664
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-03-29
copyright: © 2019 Sekan et al.
attribution name: Sekan et al.

Transcriptional factor regulation network and competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network determining response of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgery benefits survival for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) compared with surgery alone, but the clinical outcomes of nCRT are heterogeneous. This study aimed to elucidate transcriptional factor (TF) regulation network and competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network determining response of ESCC to nCRT. Materials and Methods RNA microarray data of GSE59974 and GSE45670 were analyzed to investigate the significant changes of lincRNAs, miRNAs, mRNAs in responders and non-responders of nCRT in ESCC. Functional and enrichment analyses were conducted by clusterProfiler. The target lincRNAs and mRNAs of miRNAs were predicted by miRWalk. The ceRNA and TF regulatory networks were constructed using Cytoscape. Results Differentially expressed genes between responders and non-responders mainly enriched in biological process including Wnt signaling pathway and regulation of cell development and morphogenesis involved in differentiation. Besides, these genes showed enrichment in molecular function of glycosaminoglycan binding, metalloendopeptidase inhibitor and growth factor activity. KEGG analysis enriched these genes in pathways of neurotrophin signaling pathway, cell adhesion molecules and Wnt signaling pathway. We also constructed ceRNA network and TF network regulating response of ESCC to nCRT. Core regulatory miRNAs were miR-520a, miR-548am, miR-3184, miR-548d, miR-4725, miR-148a, miR-4659a and key regulatory TFs included MBNL1, SLC26A3, BMP4, ZIC1 and ANKRD7. Conclusion We identified significantly altered lincRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs involved in the nCRT response of ESCC. In addition, the ceRNA regulatory network of lincRNA-miRNA-mRNA and TF regulatory network were constructed, which would elucidate novel molecular mechanisms determining nCRT response of ESCC, thus providing promising clues for clinical therapy.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Mingrui Shao
creator: Wenya Li
subject: Oncology
subject: Data Mining and Machine Learning
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6668
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Shao and Li
abstract: Background Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgery benefits survival for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) compared with surgery alone, but the clinical outcomes of nCRT are heterogeneous. This study aimed to elucidate transcriptional factor (TF) regulation network and competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network determining response of ESCC to nCRT. Materials and Methods RNA microarray data of GSE59974 and GSE45670 were analyzed to investigate the significant changes of lincRNAs, miRNAs, mRNAs in responders and non-responders of nCRT in ESCC. Functional and enrichment analyses were conducted by clusterProfiler. The target lincRNAs and mRNAs of miRNAs were predicted by miRWalk. The ceRNA and TF regulatory networks were constructed using Cytoscape. Results Differentially expressed genes between responders and non-responders mainly enriched in biological process including Wnt signaling pathway and regulation of cell development and morphogenesis involved in differentiation. Besides, these genes showed enrichment in molecular function of glycosaminoglycan binding, metalloendopeptidase inhibitor and growth factor activity. KEGG analysis enriched these genes in pathways of neurotrophin signaling pathway, cell adhesion molecules and Wnt signaling pathway. We also constructed ceRNA network and TF network regulating response of ESCC to nCRT. Core regulatory miRNAs were miR-520a, miR-548am, miR-3184, miR-548d, miR-4725, miR-148a, miR-4659a and key regulatory TFs included MBNL1, SLC26A3, BMP4, ZIC1 and ANKRD7. Conclusion We identified significantly altered lincRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs involved in the nCRT response of ESCC. In addition, the ceRNA regulatory network of lincRNA-miRNA-mRNA and TF regulatory network were constructed, which would elucidate novel molecular mechanisms determining nCRT response of ESCC, thus providing promising clues for clinical therapy.
bibliographic citation: Shao et al. (2019) Transcriptional factor regulation network and competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network determining response of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. PeerJ 7:e6668 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6668
date submitted: 2018-10-17
date accepted: 2019-02-21
issued: 2019-03-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Shao
  given name: Mingrui
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Wenya
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6668
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-03-29
copyright: ©2019 Shao and Li
attribution name: Shao and Li

Using opportunistic sightings to infer differential spatio-temporal use of western Mediterranean waters by the fin whale
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is a cosmopolitan species with a resident population in the Mediterranean Sea. Due to its habitat, open seas often far from ports and airfields, and its long-distance migratory behaviour, studying and monitoring its distribution is costly. Currently, many opportunistic sightings (OS) reports are available, which provide a source of potentially useful, low-cost information about the spatio-temporal distribution of this species. Since 1993, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography has compiled a dataset comprising 874 records of OS of nine species of cetaceans in the western Mediterranean Sea and adjacent waters. The aim of this study was to use this dataset to investigate the differential use of these waters by the fin whale when compared with other cetaceans. We compared the presence of fin whales with the presence of any other cetacean species in the dataset. Binary logistic regression was then used to model these occurrences according to several spatio-temporal variables expected to reflect their habitat use. Several significant models reveal that fin whales are more prone than other cetaceans to use the waters over the slope of the Gulf of Lion in summer. This finding confirms that the Gulf of Lion is an area of importance for this species and suggests that the slope of the continental shelf could be particularly important. Our study shows how OS can be a source of useful information when appropriately analyzed.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Estefanía Torreblanca
creator: Juan Antonio Camiñas
creator: David Macías
creator: Salvador García-Barcelona
creator: Raimundo Real
creator: José Carlos Báez
subject: Biogeography
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Ecology
subject: Marine Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6673
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Torreblanca et al.
abstract: The fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is a cosmopolitan species with a resident population in the Mediterranean Sea. Due to its habitat, open seas often far from ports and airfields, and its long-distance migratory behaviour, studying and monitoring its distribution is costly. Currently, many opportunistic sightings (OS) reports are available, which provide a source of potentially useful, low-cost information about the spatio-temporal distribution of this species. Since 1993, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography has compiled a dataset comprising 874 records of OS of nine species of cetaceans in the western Mediterranean Sea and adjacent waters. The aim of this study was to use this dataset to investigate the differential use of these waters by the fin whale when compared with other cetaceans. We compared the presence of fin whales with the presence of any other cetacean species in the dataset. Binary logistic regression was then used to model these occurrences according to several spatio-temporal variables expected to reflect their habitat use. Several significant models reveal that fin whales are more prone than other cetaceans to use the waters over the slope of the Gulf of Lion in summer. This finding confirms that the Gulf of Lion is an area of importance for this species and suggests that the slope of the continental shelf could be particularly important. Our study shows how OS can be a source of useful information when appropriately analyzed.
bibliographic citation: Torreblanca et al. (2019) Using opportunistic sightings to infer differential spatio-temporal use of western Mediterranean waters by the fin whale. PeerJ 7:e6673 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6673
date submitted: 2018-06-07
date accepted: 2019-02-23
issued: 2019-03-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Torreblanca
  given name: Estefanía
author list: Agent
  family name: Camiñas
  given name: Juan Antonio
author list: Agent
  family name: Macías
  given name: David
author list: Agent
  family name: García-Barcelona
  given name: Salvador
author list: Agent
  family name: Real
  given name: Raimundo
author list: Agent
  family name: Báez
  given name: José Carlos
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6673
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-03-29
copyright: © 2019 Torreblanca et al.
attribution name: Torreblanca et al.

Up-regulation of Grb2-associated binder 1 promotes hepatocyte growth factor-induced endothelial progenitor cell proliferation and migration
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Objectives Grb2-associated binder 1 (Gab1), a scaffolding adaptor protein, plays an important role in transmitting key signals that control cell growth, migration, and function from multiple tyrosine kinase receptors. This study was designed to investigate the influence of upregulation of Gab1 in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) stimulated with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Materials and Methods Endothelial progenitor cells isolated from human umbilical cord blood were identified and divided into four groups. EPCs in the Control group were cultured normally; those in the Control+HGF group were treated with HGF stimulation; those in the AD-Gab1 group were transfected with adenovirus containing the Gab1 gene but not treated with HGF stimulation; and, those in the AD-Gab1+HGF group were treated with both HGF stimulation and transfection with adenovirus containing the Gab1 gene. Subsequently, Gab1 expression and proliferation and migration ability were compared for EPCs grown under different conditions. Furthermore, we measured phosphorylation levels of three key proteins Gab1, SHP2, and ERK1/2. Results The AD-Gab1+HGF group had the highest expression of Gab1 and higher proliferation and migration than the other three groups. Conclusions Upregulation of Gab1 promoted HGF-induced EPC proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, HGF stimulated Gab1 tyrosine phosphorylation in EPCs, thus leading to activation of extracellular regulated MAP kinase 1/2, which is involved in proliferation and migration signaling.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Qing Fan
creator: Liyu Zhang
creator: Wenjie Zhu
creator: Sheng Xue
creator: Yisheng Song
creator: Qing Chang
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6675
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Fan et al.
abstract: Objectives Grb2-associated binder 1 (Gab1), a scaffolding adaptor protein, plays an important role in transmitting key signals that control cell growth, migration, and function from multiple tyrosine kinase receptors. This study was designed to investigate the influence of upregulation of Gab1 in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) stimulated with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Materials and Methods Endothelial progenitor cells isolated from human umbilical cord blood were identified and divided into four groups. EPCs in the Control group were cultured normally; those in the Control+HGF group were treated with HGF stimulation; those in the AD-Gab1 group were transfected with adenovirus containing the Gab1 gene but not treated with HGF stimulation; and, those in the AD-Gab1+HGF group were treated with both HGF stimulation and transfection with adenovirus containing the Gab1 gene. Subsequently, Gab1 expression and proliferation and migration ability were compared for EPCs grown under different conditions. Furthermore, we measured phosphorylation levels of three key proteins Gab1, SHP2, and ERK1/2. Results The AD-Gab1+HGF group had the highest expression of Gab1 and higher proliferation and migration than the other three groups. Conclusions Upregulation of Gab1 promoted HGF-induced EPC proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, HGF stimulated Gab1 tyrosine phosphorylation in EPCs, thus leading to activation of extracellular regulated MAP kinase 1/2, which is involved in proliferation and migration signaling.
bibliographic citation: Fan et al. (2019) Up-regulation of Grb2-associated binder 1 promotes hepatocyte growth factor-induced endothelial progenitor cell proliferation and migration. PeerJ 7:e6675 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6675
date submitted: 2018-11-21
date accepted: 2019-02-25
issued: 2019-03-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Fan
  given name: Qing
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Liyu
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhu
  given name: Wenjie
author list: Agent
  family name: Xue
  given name: Sheng
author list: Agent
  family name: Song
  given name: Yisheng
author list: Agent
  family name: Chang
  given name: Qing
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6675
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-03-29
copyright: © 2019 Fan et al.
attribution name: Fan et al.

Factors that influence response classifications in chemotherapy treated patient-derived xenografts (PDX)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: In this study, we investigated the impact of initial tumor volume, rate of tumor growth, cohort size, study duration, and data analysis method on chemotherapy treatment response classifications in patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). The analyses were conducted on cisplatin treatment response data for 70 PDX models representing ten cancer types with up to 28-day study duration and cohort sizes of 3–10 tumor-bearing mice. The results demonstrated that a 21-day dosing study using a cohort size of eight was necessary to reliably detect responsive models (i.e., tumor volume ratio of treated animals to control between 0.1 and 0.42)—independent of analysis method. A cohort of three tumor-bearing animals led to a reliable classification of models that were both highly responsive and highly nonresponsive to cisplatin (i.e., tumor volume ratio of treated animals to control animals less than 0.10). In our set of PDXs, we found that tumor growth rate in the control group impacted treatment response classification more than initial tumor volume. We repeated the study design factors using docetaxel treated PDXs with consistent results. Our results highlight the importance of defining endpoints for PDX dosing studies when deciding the size of cohorts to use in dosing studies and illustrate that response classifications for a study do not differ significantly across the commonly used analysis methods that are based on tumor volume changes in treatment versus control groups.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Joan E. Malcolm
creator: Timothy M. Stearns
creator: Susan D. Airhart
creator: Joel H. Graber
creator: Carol J. Bult
subject: Bioengineering
subject: Drugs and Devices
subject: Oncology
subject: Translational Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6586
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Malcolm et al.
abstract: In this study, we investigated the impact of initial tumor volume, rate of tumor growth, cohort size, study duration, and data analysis method on chemotherapy treatment response classifications in patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). The analyses were conducted on cisplatin treatment response data for 70 PDX models representing ten cancer types with up to 28-day study duration and cohort sizes of 3–10 tumor-bearing mice. The results demonstrated that a 21-day dosing study using a cohort size of eight was necessary to reliably detect responsive models (i.e., tumor volume ratio of treated animals to control between 0.1 and 0.42)—independent of analysis method. A cohort of three tumor-bearing animals led to a reliable classification of models that were both highly responsive and highly nonresponsive to cisplatin (i.e., tumor volume ratio of treated animals to control animals less than 0.10). In our set of PDXs, we found that tumor growth rate in the control group impacted treatment response classification more than initial tumor volume. We repeated the study design factors using docetaxel treated PDXs with consistent results. Our results highlight the importance of defining endpoints for PDX dosing studies when deciding the size of cohorts to use in dosing studies and illustrate that response classifications for a study do not differ significantly across the commonly used analysis methods that are based on tumor volume changes in treatment versus control groups.
bibliographic citation: Malcolm et al. (2019) Factors that influence response classifications in chemotherapy treated patient-derived xenografts (PDX). PeerJ 7:e6586 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6586
date submitted: 2018-09-12
date accepted: 2019-02-08
issued: 2019-03-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Malcolm
  given name: Joan E.
author list: Agent
  family name: Stearns
  given name: Timothy M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Airhart
  given name: Susan D.
author list: Agent
  family name: Graber
  given name: Joel H.
author list: Agent
  family name: Bult
  given name: Carol J.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6586
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-03-28
copyright: ©2019 Malcolm et al.
attribution name: Malcolm et al.

Evaluation of a toxoid fusion protein vaccine produced in plants to protect poultry against necrotic enteritis
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Necrotic enteritis (NE) is caused by type A strains of the bacterium Clostridium perfringens. Total global economic losses to the poultry industry due to NE is estimated to be over two billion dollars annually. Traditionally, NE has been effectively controlled by inclusion of antibiotics in the diet of poultry. However, recent concerns regarding the impact of this practice on increasing antibiotic resistance in human pathogens have led us to consider alternative approaches, such as vaccination, for controlling this disease. NE strains of C. perfringens produce two major toxins, a-toxin and NetB. Immune responses against either toxin can provide partial protection against NE. Methods We have developed a fusion protein combining a non-toxic carboxyl-terminal domain of a-toxin (PlcC) and an attenuated, mutant form of NetB (NetB-W262A) for use as a vaccine antigen to immunize poultry against NE. We utilized a DNA sequence that was codon-optimized for Nicotiana benthamiana to enable high levels of expression. The 6-His tagged PlcC-NetB fusion protein was synthesized in N. benthamiana using a geminiviral replicon transient expression system, purified by metal affinity chromatography, and used to immunize broiler birds. Results Immunized birds produced a strong serum IgY response against both the plant produced PlcC-NetB protein and against bacterially produced His-PlcC and His-NetB. Immunized birds were significantly protected against a subsequent in-feed challenge with virulent C. perfringens when treated with the fusion protein. These results indicate that a plant-produced PlcC-NetB toxoid is a promising vaccine candidate for controlling NE in poultry.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Joseph G.L. Hunter
creator: Shyra Wilde
creator: Amanda M. Tafoya
creator: Jamie Horsman
creator: Miranda Yousif
creator: Andrew G. Diamos
creator: Kenneth L. Roland
creator: Hugh S. Mason
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Microbiology
subject: Veterinary Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6600
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Hunter et al.
abstract: Background Necrotic enteritis (NE) is caused by type A strains of the bacterium Clostridium perfringens. Total global economic losses to the poultry industry due to NE is estimated to be over two billion dollars annually. Traditionally, NE has been effectively controlled by inclusion of antibiotics in the diet of poultry. However, recent concerns regarding the impact of this practice on increasing antibiotic resistance in human pathogens have led us to consider alternative approaches, such as vaccination, for controlling this disease. NE strains of C. perfringens produce two major toxins, a-toxin and NetB. Immune responses against either toxin can provide partial protection against NE. Methods We have developed a fusion protein combining a non-toxic carboxyl-terminal domain of a-toxin (PlcC) and an attenuated, mutant form of NetB (NetB-W262A) for use as a vaccine antigen to immunize poultry against NE. We utilized a DNA sequence that was codon-optimized for Nicotiana benthamiana to enable high levels of expression. The 6-His tagged PlcC-NetB fusion protein was synthesized in N. benthamiana using a geminiviral replicon transient expression system, purified by metal affinity chromatography, and used to immunize broiler birds. Results Immunized birds produced a strong serum IgY response against both the plant produced PlcC-NetB protein and against bacterially produced His-PlcC and His-NetB. Immunized birds were significantly protected against a subsequent in-feed challenge with virulent C. perfringens when treated with the fusion protein. These results indicate that a plant-produced PlcC-NetB toxoid is a promising vaccine candidate for controlling NE in poultry.
bibliographic citation: Hunter et al. (2019) Evaluation of a toxoid fusion protein vaccine produced in plants to protect poultry against necrotic enteritis. PeerJ 7:e6600 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6600
date submitted: 2018-11-21
date accepted: 2019-02-08
issued: 2019-03-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Hunter
  given name: Joseph G.L.
author list: Agent
  family name: Wilde
  given name: Shyra
author list: Agent
  family name: Tafoya
  given name: Amanda M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Horsman
  given name: Jamie
author list: Agent
  family name: Yousif
  given name: Miranda
author list: Agent
  family name: Diamos
  given name: Andrew G.
author list: Agent
  family name: Roland
  given name: Kenneth L.
author list: Agent
  family name: Mason
  given name: Hugh S.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6600
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-03-28
copyright: © 2019 Hunter et al.
attribution name: Hunter et al.

Underwater sound production varies within not between species in sympatric newts
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Sound production is a widespread phenomenon among animals. Effective sound use for mate or species recognition requires some acoustic differentiation at an individual or species level. Several species of caudate amphibians produce underwater sounds, but information about intra- and interspecific variation in their acoustic production is missing. We examined individual, sex, and species variation in underwater sound production in adults of two sympatric newt taxa, Ichthyosaura alpestris and Lissotriton vulgaris. Individual newts produced simple low- (peak frequency = 7–8 kHz) and mid-high frequency (14–17 kHz) clicks, which greatly overlap between sexes and species. Individual differences explained about 40–50% of total variation in sound parameters. These results provide foundations for further studies on the mechanisms and eco-evolutionary consequences of underwater acoustics in newts.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jiří Hubáček
creator: Monika Šugerková
creator: Lumír Gvoždík
subject: Animal Behavior
subject: Zoology
subject: Freshwater Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6649
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Hubáček et al.
abstract: Sound production is a widespread phenomenon among animals. Effective sound use for mate or species recognition requires some acoustic differentiation at an individual or species level. Several species of caudate amphibians produce underwater sounds, but information about intra- and interspecific variation in their acoustic production is missing. We examined individual, sex, and species variation in underwater sound production in adults of two sympatric newt taxa, Ichthyosaura alpestris and Lissotriton vulgaris. Individual newts produced simple low- (peak frequency = 7–8 kHz) and mid-high frequency (14–17 kHz) clicks, which greatly overlap between sexes and species. Individual differences explained about 40–50% of total variation in sound parameters. These results provide foundations for further studies on the mechanisms and eco-evolutionary consequences of underwater acoustics in newts.
bibliographic citation: Hubáček et al. (2019) Underwater sound production varies within not between species in sympatric newts. PeerJ 7:e6649 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6649
date submitted: 2018-10-29
date accepted: 2019-02-20
issued: 2019-03-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Hubáček
  given name: Jiří
author list: Agent
  family name: Šugerková
  given name: Monika
author list: Agent
  family name: Gvoždík
  given name: Lumír
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6649
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-03-28
copyright: ©2019 Hubáček et al.
attribution name: Hubáček et al.

PeerJ
type: Periodical
uri: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359