DavalosLab

Commentary on TCRV by ! 🌎Discovered in Trinidad in the 1950s, spread and zoonotic potential are highlighted by our finding in one Jamaican fruit bat!
Paper: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00520-24

Commentary: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00605-24

Discovery and biological confirmation of a highly divergent Tacaribe virus in metatranscriptomic data from neotropical bats | mSphere Clade B New World arenaviruses (NWA) include rodent-borne lethal hemorrhagic fever viruses, whereas Tacaribe virus (TCRV) stands out because of its detection in bats and its presumably low zoonotic potential. However, the bat association of TCRV was put ...

🌍🦇 A decade ago, we caught a Jamaican fruit bat in the Dominican Republic for our research. Now, in collaboration with , we report a highly divergent Tacaribe virus strain, DOM2014!
https://journals.asm.org/doi/epub/10.1128/msphere.00520-24
🧬 Phylogenetics reveals broad geographic spread and genetic diversity of TCRV. The new strain clusters in a sister relationship with other bat-associated TCRV strains, confirming its association with neotropical fruit bats. 🦇🦇🦇
🦠 Unlike earlier lab-isolated strains, DOM2014’s genome conserves key motifs critical for immune evasion (inferred) in its bat host. This discovery suggests a stronger potential for transmission among bats, warranting further research on pathogenicity in its host or hosts
🔬We emphasize the value of metatranscriptomics (published here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mec.15445 and here https://academic.oup.com/mbe/article/38/9/3864/6135087?login=false) for uncovering hidden viral diversity and assessing future zoonotic disease risks.

🦠 The Evolving Mpox Challenge: What You Need to Know!

As the world continues to grapple with evolving infectious diseases, the current mpox (Mpox) outbreak has raised new concerns. 🧬In our recent paper we dive into the complex changes happening in the virus, from its mutations to its increasing human-to-human transmission. As mpox cases continue to rise, particularly in non-endemic areas, understanding these shifts is crucial for guiding public health responses, vaccine strategies, and treatments. 🦠💉

Key Takeaways:
👉 The virus is evolving, showing new mutations that may affect how it spreads.
👉 Human-to-human transmission is increasing, with more cases popping up in non-endemic regions.
👉 There's still much we don’t know, but understanding its genetic shifts can help us stay one step ahead in terms of vaccines and treatments.

We’re excited to share this work with the scientific community and beyond! 🙌 Check out the full study here: https://doi.org/10.1093/ve/vead047

Let’s continue to stay vigilant and informed. 💉💡

🚨🧠 Why does the common shrew 🐿️ shrink their brain every winter? ❄️ And how does this relate to processes that may be going on in your brain 🧠, especially as you age? 🤔 In this preprint from Bill Thomas’ Frontier of Science Program funded dissertation, we explored 🕵️‍♂️ seasonal changes in RNA expression in the shrew hypothalamus and compared it to other mammals 🐾
👉🏼 https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.06.18.599531v1

We found shrews 🐿️ both seasonally 🌸☀️🍂❄️ and adaptively 🧬 change their gene expression to maintain energetic homeostasis ⚖️, important for these shrews with bonkers high metabolic rates 💪🏼 even after factoring in how small they are 🦐

We also found a subset of genes 🧬 related to the development and progression of neurological disorders 🧠 in humans, which may be of therapeutic relevance 💊 for treating these diseases. 🐿️

Congratulations Dr Paul Donat 0n earning your Ph.D.
Davalos lab is incredibly proud of your accomplishment and excited to see the impact of your work will have on the field.💐

16 Fulbright Amazonia Scholars Unite in Leticia to Forge Sustainable Future for the Amazon Basin: Collaborative Projects and Policy Talks Spark Cross-Border Solutions
https://www.fulbrightprogram.org/fulbright-amazonia-scholars-convene-in-colombia/

Decoding Neotropics' Biodiversity: Exploring Adaptive Radiations in Plants and Animals
Read here:
https://cshperspectives.cshlp.org/content/early/2024/04/30/cshperspect.a041452.abstract

Thank you Fulbright Colombia for hosting Fulbright Amazonia and creating the spaces for researchers, policymakers and local communities to work together to solve challenges in the region!

Evolvability of cancer genes shaped by APOBEC3A/B selection: Study reveals unique impact on genetic variation and tumor evolution.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004224006540

🔍 Sensory diversity evolves alongside skull development, and this study explores how the cochlea, responsible for hearing and echolocation, shapes up in bats of the Noctilionoidea superfamily with distinct diets and echolocation types. The size and shape of the cochlea closely correlate with skull size in most cases. Exceptional cases include Pteronotus parnellii, with a larger cochlear and basal turn linked to high-duty-cycle echolocation, and Monophyllus redmani, a nectarivorous bat with a constrained cochlea size due to interactions with other sensory organs. The findings highlight developmental constraints, suggesting a dynamic interplay between developmental and anatomical factors shaping sensory systems in noctilionoid bats. 🌍💡 🦇🌿🔬
https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ar.25353

🤖 The cranium, a complex anatomical structure, showcases shifts between modularity and integration, influencing adaptive diversification. Eight evolutionary modules are identified, with five linked to bite force and three to olfactory, visual, and auditory systems. Interrelationships among these modules vary, notably between Neotropical leaf-nosed bats and other noctilionoids, revealing unique evolutionary trajectories. 🦇🌿 The study supports the idea that dietary transitions kick off with enhanced sensory capabilities before mechanical adaptations follow, shaping phenotypic disparity.
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/epdf/10.1086/725368

🦇🔍 Diving into the world of African bats and viruses – a critical review calls for optimized sampling and bat conservation! 🌍🔬 Comprehensive analysis spanning 1978-2020 explores the often-proposed link between bats and emerging diseases in humans in Africa.
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/725368

🧬 High viral tolerance and unique immune response regulation make bats a stellar model for studying host-pathogen dynamics. This study focuses on AMPs, particularly defensins and cathelicidins, shedding light on their diversity, evolution, and distribution across six bat families.
https://lmdavalos.github.io/publication/journal_evolution_antimicrobial_peptides_chiroptera/

Discover the fascinating connection between APOBEC3 enzymes and cancer-associated genes in our latest published article! 🧬🔬 Explore insights into genetic variation, evolutionary patterns, and the impact of APOBEC activation at different cancer stages. 🌐🦠 Learn more about how APOBEC-induced heterogeneity influences clonal dynamics, shaping the evolution of cancer.📖
Read more:
https://lmdavalos.github.io/publication/preprint_evolvability_cancer_associated_under_apobec3_selection/

Cracking the code of monkeypox evolution! 🐒 Our lab explores the dynamic interplay between monkeypox virus (MPXV) and human APOBEC3 enzymes, unraveling potential mutations and evolutionary pathways. 🧬🦠 Indulge into the fascinating world of virus-host interactions.
Read more:
https://academic.oup.com/ve/article/9/2/vead047/7235641?login=true

Delving into the enigma of Dehnel’s phenomenon in common shrews! 🐭Our lab introduces a comprehensive brain atlas, merging histology, MRI, and transcriptomics. 🧠🔍 Journey into the fascinating realm of seasonal brain changes. 🌿 .
Read more:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnana.2023.1168523/full

Exploring the intricate ties between Carollia bats and Piper seeds, our lab's latest study reveals the captivating interplay of traits. 🦇🌿 Using advanced modeling, witness the harmonious symphony of plant-frugivore connections. 🎶🌍
👉🏽 https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.01.17.576112v1

🧬🐾 Dive into the genome mystery! Published in Science, this study explores 248 mammal genomes, unveiling dynamic transposable elements. Young TEs expand genome size, diet shapes DNA transposon patterns. A genomics benchmark! 👉🏽https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abn1430

🌺🐦 Unraveling the secrets of hummingbird speciation! 🧬 Morphology and niche evolution take center stage in this study. Smaller size, shorter bills, and high-altitude living drive faster speciation. The dance between trait divergence and conservatism paints a vivid picture of hummingbird diversity origins! 🌐🔍
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2022.1793

🦇🧬A hotspot for genetic innovation—research uncovers over 200 horizontally transferred DNA transposons in bats. These events coincide with bat diversification, suggesting a key role in genetic diversity. 🌐🔍
👉🏽https://academic.oup.com/mbe/article/40/5/msad092/7128099?login=false

🦇👃🦴Exploring bat evolution! This study reveals the intricate dance between mechanical and sensory modules in Noctilionoid bats, uncovering how bite force and sensory systems coevolve.🔍Fascinating insights into adaptive diversification!
👉🏽https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/725368

"🦇 Unlocking the secrets of bat genomes! 🧬 The Bat1K project reveals fascinating adaptations in immune genes, shedding light on viral tolerance and disease resistance. 🌐🔬
👉🏽https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs
2557682/v1/23cd0419848da683e3cd5b60.pdf?c=1676404271