0000000000544121
AUTHOR
Steve Paterson
Whole-genome analysis reveals contrasting relationships among nuclear and mitochondrial genomes between three sympatric bat species
Understanding mechanisms involved in speciation can be challenging, especially when hybridization or introgression blurs species boundaries. In bats resolving relationships of some closely related groups has proven difficult due subtle interspecific variation both in morphometrics and molecular datasets. The endemic South American Histiotus bats, currently considered a sub-genus of Eptesicus, harbor unresolved phylogenetic relationships and of those is a trio consisting of two closely related species: Eptesicus (Histiotus) macrotus and E. (H.) montanus, and their relationship with a third, E. (H.) magellanicus. The three sympatric species bear marked resemblance to each other, but can be di…
The Extracellular Vesicles of the Helminth Pathogen, Fasciola hepatica : Biogenesis Pathways and Cargo Molecules Involved in Parasite Pathogenesis
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by parasites have important roles in establishing and maintaining infection. Analysis of the soluble and vesicular secretions of adult Fasciola hepatica has established a definitive characterisation of the total secretome of this zoonotic parasite. Fasciola secretes at least two sub-populations of EVs that differ according to size, cargo molecules and site of release from the parasite. The larger EVs are released from the specialised cells that line the parasite gastrodermus and contain the zymogen of the 37 kDa cathepsin L peptidase that performs a digestive function. The smaller exosome-like vesicle population originate from multivesicular bodies with…