title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=775 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Genome-wide identification and characterization of the CLASP_N gene family in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) link: https://peerj.com/articles/12733 last-modified: 2022-01-03 description: BackgroundCytoplasmic linker–associated proteins (CLASPs) are tubule proteins that can bind to microtubules and participate in regulating the structure and function of microtubules, which significantly affects the development and growth of plants. These proteins have been identified in Arabidopsis; however, little research has been performed in upland cotton.MethodsIn this study, the whole genome of the CLASP_N family was analyzed to provide theoretical support for the function of this gene family in the development of upland cotton fiber. Bioinformatics was used to analyze the family characteristics of CLASP_N in upland cotton, such as member identification, sequence characteristics, conserved domain structure and coevolutionary relationships. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to clarify the expression pattern of the upland cotton CLASP_N gene family in cotton fiber.ResultsAt the genome-wide level, we identified 16 upland cotton CLASP_N genes. A chromosomal localization analysis revealed that these 16 genes were located on 13 chromosomes. The motif results showed that all CLASP_N proteins have the CLASP_N domain. Gene structure analysis showed that the structure and length of exons and introns were consistent in the subgroups. In the evolutionary analysis with other species, the gene family clearly diverged from the other species in the evolutionary process. A promoter sequence analysis showed that this gene family contains a large number of cis-acting elements related to a variety of plant hormones. qRT-PCR was used to clarify the expression pattern of the upland cotton CLASP_N gene family in cotton fiber and leaves, and Gh210800 was found to be highly expressed in the later stages of fiber development. The results of this study provide a foundation for further research on the molecular role of the CLASP_N genes in cotton fiber development. creator: Meijun Ji creator: Kangtai Sun creator: Hui Fang creator: Zhimin Zhuang creator: Haodong Chen creator: Qi Chen creator: Ziyi Cao creator: Yiting Wang creator: Allah Ditta creator: Muhammad Kashif Riaz Khan creator: Kai Wang creator: Baohua Wang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12733 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Ji et al. title: Investigation of lipolytic activity of the red king crab hepatopancreas homogenate by NMR spectroscopy link: https://peerj.com/articles/12742 last-modified: 2022-01-03 description: The digestive gland of craboids (hepatopancreas) is rich in a huge number of various enzymes (collagenases, nucleases, hyaluronidases, proteases), which are well studied at the moment. However, little is known about crustacean lipases. In this work, using 1H NMR spectroscopy, it was found that the hepatopancreas homogenate of the red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus demonstrates high lipolytic activity against triacetin in a wide pH range and shows moderate activity against the caprylic/capric triglyceride emulsion. Under the action of the hepatopancreas homogenate, triacylglycerols are converted into 1,2-diacylglycerol, and then into 2-monoacylglycerol and 1-monoacylglycerol. The 1-monoacylglycerol predominates in the reaction products. The use of NMR spectroscopy makes it possible to quickly detect hydrolysis products and evaluate the reaction direction. creator: Maria Timchenko creator: Vladislav Molchanov creator: Maxim Molchanov creator: Alexander Timchenko creator: Evgeny Sogorin uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12742 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Timchenko et al. title: Molecular genetic diversity of seaweeds morphologically related to Ulva rigida at three sites along the French Atlantic coast link: https://peerj.com/articles/11966 last-modified: 2021-12-24 description: Foliose species of the genus Ulva are notoriously difficult to identify due to their variable morphological characteristics and high phenotypic plasticity. We reassessed the taxonomic status of several distromatic foliose Ulva spp., morphologically related to Ulva rigida, using DNA barcoding with the chloroplastic tufA and rbcL (for a subset of taxa) genes for 339 selected attached Ulva specimens collected from three intertidal rocky sites. Two of the collection sites were in Brittany and one site was in Vendée, along the Atlantic coast of France. Molecular analyses included several museum specimens and the holotype of Ulva armoricana Dion, Reviers & Coat. We identified five different tufA haplotypes using a combination of phylogenetic analysis, with the support of several recently sequenced holotypes and lectotypes, and a species delimitation method based on hierarchical clustering. Four haplotypes were supported by validly named species: Ulva australis Areschoug, Ulva fenestrata Postels & Ruprecht, Ulva lacinulata (Kützing) Wittrock and U. rigida C. Agardh. The later was additionally investigated using rbcL. The fifth haplotype represented exact sequence matches to an unnamed species from European Atlantic coasts. Our results support: (1) the synonymy of both U. rigida sensu Bliding non C. Agardh and U. armoricana with U. lacinulata. This finding is based on current genetic analysis of tufA from the U. armoricana holotype and recent molecular characterization of the lectotype of U. laetevirens, which is synonymous to U. australis, (2) the presence of U. australis as a misidentified introduced species in Brittany, and (3) the presence of U. fenestrata and U. rigida in southern Brittany. The taxonomic history of each species is discussed, highlighting issues within distromatic foliose taxa of the genus Ulva and the need to genetically characterize all its available type specimens. creator: Manon Dartois creator: Eric Pante creator: Amélia Viricel creator: Vanessa Becquet creator: Pierre-Guy Sauriau uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11966 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2021 Dartois et al. title: Small-scale drivers on plant and ant diversity in a grassland habitat through a multifaceted approach link: https://peerj.com/articles/12517 last-modified: 2021-12-24 description: Semi-natural grasslands are characterized by high biodiversity and require multifaceted approaches to monitor their biodiversity. Moreover, grasslands comprise a multitude of microhabitats, making the scale of investigation of fundamental importance. Despite their wide distribution, grasslands are highly threatened and are considered of high conservation priority by Directive no. 92/43/EEC. Here, we investigate the effects of small-scale ecological differences between two ecosites present within the EU habitat of Community Interest of semi-natural dry grasslands on calcareous substrates (6210 according to Dir. 92/43/EEC) occurring on a Mediterranean mountain. We measured taxonomic and functional diversity of plant and ant communities, evaluating the differences among the two ecosites, how these differences are influenced by the environment and whether vegetation affects composition of the ant community. Our results show that taxonomic and functional diversity of plant and ant communities are influenced by the environment. While vegetation has no effect on ant communities, we found plant and ant community composition differed across the two ecosites, filtering ant and plant species according to their functional traits, even at a small spatial scale. Our findings imply that small-scale monitoring is needed to effectively conserve priority habitats, especially for those that comprise multiple microhabitats. creator: Michele Mugnai creator: Clara Frasconi Wendt creator: Paride Balzani creator: Giulio Ferretti creator: Matteo Dal Cin creator: Alberto Masoni creator: Filippo Frizzi creator: Giacomo Santini creator: Daniele Viciani creator: Bruno Foggi creator: Lorenzo Lazzaro uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12517 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2021 Mugnai et al. title: Linking individual and population patterns of rocky-shore mussels link: https://peerj.com/articles/12550 last-modified: 2021-12-24 description: Individual traits and population parameters can be used as proxies of processes taking place within a range of scales, thus improving the way we can evaluate species response to environmental variability. In intertidal rocky shores, patterns at the within-site scale, i.e., between centimeters to hundreds of meters, are important for understanding the population response into these highly variable environments. Here, we studied a rocky-shore mussel population at the within-site spatial scale (1) to test how intertidal height and orientation of the shore affect individual traits and population parameters, (2) to infer the link between individual and population level features, and (3) to explore the upscaling mechanisms driving population structure and processes. We analyzed the patterns of six population parameters: density, biomass, crowding, median individual size, recruitment and mortality rate, and four individual traits: growth rate, spawning phenology, size and condition index. Crowding was defined as the degree of overlapping of individuals within a given area, for which we created a “crowding index”. Mussels were studied along the intertidal height gradient in two rocky shores with contrasted orientation at one site over a full year. Our results showed a significant effect of intertidal height and shore orientation on most of individual traits and population parameters studied. In contrast, biomass contained in a full covered surface did not vary in space nor in time. This pattern likely results from relatively constant crowding and a trade-off between median individuals’ size and density. We hypothesize that growth, mortality and recruitment rates may all play roles in the stability of the crowding structure of mussel aggregations. Variation in spawning phenology between the two shores in the study site was also observed, suggesting different temporal dynamics of microclimate conditions. Interestingly, despite the different population size distribution between the two shores, our estimates indicate similar potential reproductive output. We hypothesize that the structure of the patches would tend to maintain or carry a maximum of biomass due to trade-offs between density and size while maintaining and maximizing the reproductive output. The patterns of spatial variability of individual traits and population parameters in our study site suggest that heterogeneous within-site conditions influence variation in individual performance and population processes. These results provide insights about the relationship between individual traits and how these relationships make patterns at the population level emerge. They provide baseline information necessary to improve models of metapopulation with spatially explicit processes. creator: Romina Vanessa Barbosa creator: Cédric Bacher creator: Fred Jean creator: Yoann Thomas uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12550 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2021 Barbosa et al. title: Macrophage immunomodulatory activity of Acanthopanax senticousus polysaccharide nanoemulsion via activation of P65/JNK/ikkαsignaling pathway and regulation of Th1/Th2 Cytokines link: https://peerj.com/articles/12575 last-modified: 2021-12-24 description: Nanoemulsions (NE) are used widely in pharmaceutical drug formulations and vaccine preparation, and Acanthopanax senticousus polysaccharide (ASPS) is a natural bioactive compound with immunostimulatory activity. Therefore, NE-loaded ASPS is expected to provide immunological enhancement for effective treatment. In the present study, Acanthopanax senticousus polysaccharide (ASPS was encapsulated into nanoemulsions, the resultant ASPS–NE were coated with a negative charge, and the immune enhancement mechanism of these ASPS-NE formulations was analyzed. The immunosuppressive animal models (70 ICR mice, male) for the study were established using cyclophosphamide. In addition, the activation of splenocyte proliferation, phagocytosis of the macrophages, the ratio of CD4+ to CD8+, the concentrations of the cytokines in serum, Western blot analysis was used for the analysis of the P65/JNK/ikk α signaling pathway in the peritoneal macrophage s. The results revealed that the ASPS-NE could stimulated the proliferation of splenocytes and enhance immunity. The ASPS-NE induced the expression of different cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-6), could activate the expressions of P65, JNK, and ikkα, and regulated the Th1/Th2 cytokines. These findings demonstrated the potential of ASPS-NE formulations for drug delivery and to induce potent and sustained immune responses. creator: Xianghui Li creator: Zhiqiang Zhang creator: Zhenhuan Guo creator: Li Zhao creator: Yonglu Liu creator: Xia Ma creator: Qigai He uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12575 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2021 Li et al. title: Three new species of Byrsopteryx Flint microcaddisflies from Peru (Insecta: Trichoptera) including DNA-based larval associations link: https://peerj.com/articles/12645 last-modified: 2021-12-24 description: In this paper, we have described and illustrated three new species of Byrsopteryx from Peru: Byrsopteryx inti, sp. nov.Byrsopteryx mamaocllosp. nov., and Byrsopteryx mancocapacsp. nov. Larvae of the latter two were also associated to male specimens based on comparison of a fragment of COI gene and pharate male identification. Byrsopteryx intisp. nov. and Byrsopteryx mamaocllosp. nov. share a unique feature: a semi-dome process formed by a thickened area on male forewings. The three species can be easily identified by wing coloration and male genitalia. Furthermore, Byrsopteryx intisp. nov. can be recognized by its sternum VIII with a median digitate process on posterior margin, slightly capitate; and by long dorsolateral processes from segment VIII, which cross each other apically in dorsal view. Byrsopteryx mamaocllosp. nov. can be distinguished by sternum VIII bearing a pair of short, posterior, spinelike processes, which are curved inwards and bordered by a rounded, membranous structure, and by a pair of short, heavily sclerotized, dorsolateral processes. Byrsopteryx mancocapacsp. nov. can be distinguished by strong spine-like processes arising dorsally from subgenital plate and by sternum VIII with posterior margin divided into two plate-like lobes. Larvae of B. mamaocllosp. nov. and B. mancocapacsp. nov. are similar to other Byrsopteryx larvae known. They can be distinguished from each other by the shape of the operculum formed by terga VIII and IX, and number of setae on the second abdominal pleurite. Maximum likelihood analyses of 20 COI sequences, including nine Byrsopteryx species, placed B. intisp. nov. and B. mamaocllosp. nov. as sister species and related to a clade including B. gomezi, B. tapanti, and B. esparta, while B. mancocapacsp. nov. was found as sister to B. abrelata. Despite the close phylogenetic relationship found between B. intisp. nov. and B. mamaocllosp. nov., they are separated by 14.9% minimum K2P divergence of COI. The highest intraspecific distance observed was 1.4% for B. mancocapacsp. nov. individuals. Although the Peruvian caddisfly fauna has around 320 known species and almost a third of them are microcaddisflies, in this paper we present the first descriptions of Byrsopteryx species for the country. creator: Allan P.M. Santos creator: Daniela Maeda Takiya uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12645 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2021 Santos and Takiya title: Living on the edge: genetic structure and geographic distribution in the threatened Markham’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates markhami) link: https://peerj.com/articles/12669 last-modified: 2021-12-24 description: Migratory birds are threatened by habitat loss and degradation, illegal killings, ineffective conservation policies, knowledge gaps and climate change. These threats are particularly troubling in the Procellariiformes (Aves), one of the most endangered bird groups. For “storm-petrels”, their cryptic breeding behavior, asynchrony between populations, and light pollution pose additional threats that contribute to increased mortality.Markham’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates markhami), a poorly known migratory species, is a pelagic bird that breeds in dispersed colonies in the Sechura and Atacama Deserts, with asynchronous reproduction between colonies, and is highly affected by artificial lights. Considering its complex conservation scenario and singular breeding, we expected to find narrow habitat distribution conditions, strong geographic genetic structure, and spatially differentiation related to human population activities (e.g., light pollution) and the climate global change. To evaluate these predictions, we analyzed the phylogeography, current and future potential distribution based on mitochondrial gene ND1 and geographic records.The phylogeographic analyses revealed three well-supported clades (i.e., Paracas, Arica, and Salar Grande), and the geographical distribution modeled using an intrinsic conditional model (iCAR) suggests a positive relationship with the mean temperature of the wettest quarter and of the driest quarter, solar radiation, and anthropogenic disturbance. The future predictions under moderate and severe scenarios of global change indicated a drastic distribution area reduction, especially in the southern zone around Tarapacá and Antofagasta in Chile. These suggest a potential loss of unique genetic diversity and the need for conservation actions particularly focused at the edges of the H. markhami distribution. creator: Heraldo V. Norambuena creator: Reinaldo Rivera creator: Rodrigo Barros creator: Rodrigo Silva creator: Ronny Peredo creator: Cristián E. Hernández uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12669 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2021 Norambuena et al. title: Integrated analysis and the identification of a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network in the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm link: https://peerj.com/articles/12682 last-modified: 2021-12-24 description: BackgroundAbdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a disease commonly seen in the elderly. The aneurysm diameter increases yearly, and the larger the AAA the higher the risk of rupture, increasing the risk of death. However, there are no current effective interventions in the early stages of AAA.MethodsFour gene expression profiling datasets, including 23 normal artery (NOR) tissue samples and 97 AAA tissue samples, were integrated in order to explore potential molecular biological targets for early intervention. After preprocessing, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between AAA and NOR were identified using LIMMA package. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis were conducted using the DAVID database. The protein-protein interaction network was constructed and hub genes were identified using the STRING database and plugins in Cytoscape. A circular RNA (circRNA) profile of four NOR tissues versus four AAA tissues was then reanalyzed. A circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction network was constructed after predictions were made using the Targetscan and Circinteractome databases.ResultsA total of 440 DEGs (263 up-regulated and 177 down-regulated) were identified in the AAA group, compared with the NOR group. The majority were associated with the extracellular matrix, tumor necrosis factor-α, and transforming growth factor-β. Ten hub gene-encoded proteins (namely IL6, RPS27A, JUN, UBC, UBA52, FOS, IL1B, MMP9, SPP1 and CCL2) coupled with a higher degree of connectivity hub were identified after protein‐protein interaction network analysis. Our results, in combination with the results of previous studies revealed that miR-635, miR-527, miR-520h, miR-938 and miR-518a-5p may be affected by circ_0005073 and impact the expression of hub genes such as CCL2, SPP1 and UBA52. The miR-1206 may also be affected by circ_0090069 and impact RPS27A expression.ConclusionsThis circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network may perform critical roles in AAA and may be a novel target for early intervention. creator: Ke Si creator: Da Lu creator: Jianbo Tian uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12682 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2021 Si et al. title: Spatiotemporal patterns of the COVID-19 epidemic in Mexico at the municipality level link: https://peerj.com/articles/12685 last-modified: 2021-12-24 description: In recent history, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is one of the worst infectious disease outbreaks affecting humanity. The World Health Organization has defined the outbreak of COVID-19 as a pandemic, and the massive growth of the number of infected cases in a short time has caused enormous pressure on medical systems. Mexico surpassed 3.7 million confirmed infections and 285,000 deaths on October 23, 2021. We analysed the spatio-temporal patterns of the COVID-19 epidemic in Mexico using the georeferenced confirmed cases aggregated at the municipality level. We computed weekly Moran’s I index to assess spatial autocorrelation over time and identify clusters of the disease using the “flexibly shaped spatial scan” approach. Finally, we compared Euclidean, cost, resistance distances and gravitational model to select the best-suited approach to predict inter-municipality contagion. We found that COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico is characterised by clusters evolving in space and time as parallel epidemics. The gravitational distance was the best model to predict newly infected municipalities though the predictive power was relatively low and varied over time. This study helps us understand the spread of the epidemic over the Mexican territory and gives insights to model and predict the epidemic behaviour. creator: Jean-François Mas creator: Azucena Pérez-Vega uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12685 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2021 Mas and Pérez-Vega