A5024246243- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Tree-ring climate responses
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Dermatological and COVID-19 studies
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Infrared Target Detection Methodologies
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Water Quality and Resources Studies
University of Denver
2016-2025
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
2022-2023
National Institutes of Health
2022-2023
University of Tasmania
2008-2022
Georgetown University
2021
Merck (Germany)
2020
European Molecular Biology Organization
2017
Department of Behavioral Health
2014
Innovative Genomics Institute
2011
University of California, Berkeley
2004-2009
Choanoflagellates are the closest known relatives of metazoans. To discover potential molecular mechanisms underlying evolution metazoan multicellularity, we sequenced and analysed genome unicellular choanoflagellate Monosiga brevicollis. The contains approximately 9,200 intron-rich genes, including a number that encode cell adhesion signalling protein domains otherwise restricted to Here show physical linkages among often differ between M. brevicollis metazoans, suggesting abundant domain...
In stark contrast to the rapid morphological radiation of eumetazoans during Cambrian explosion, simple body plan sponges (Phylum Porifera) emerged from relatively unchanged. Although genetic and developmental underpinnings these disparate evolutionary outcomes are unknown, comparisons between modern promise reveal extent which critical factors were present in their common ancestors. Two particularly interesting classes genes this respect those involved cell signaling adhesion. These help...
It has been posited that animal development evolved from pre-existing mechanisms for regulating cell differentiation in the single celled and colonial ancestors of animals. Although progenitors animals cannot be studied directly, insights into their biology may gleaned comparisons between closest living relatives, choanoflagellates. We report here on life history, intercellular interactions colony-forming choanoflagellate Salpingoeca rosetta. In response to diverse environmental cues, S....
The evolution of cadherins, which are essential for metazoan multicellularity and restricted to metazoans their closest relatives, has special relevance understanding origins. To reconstruct the ancestry cadherin gene families, we analyzed genomes choanoflagellate Salpingoeca rosetta , unicellular outgroup choanoflagellates Capsaspora owczarzaki a draft genome assembly from homoscleromorph sponge Oscarella carmela . Our finding in C. reveals that cadherins predate divergence...
An epithelium is important for integrity, homeostasis, communication and co-ordination, its development must have been a fundamental step in the evolution of modern metazoan body plans. Sponges are metazoans that often said to lack true epithelium. We assess properties epithelia, review history studies on sponge focusing their homology bilaterian ultrastructure, ability seal. Electron micrographs show adherens-type junctions present sponges but they can appear much slighter than equivalent...
Muscle-based movement is a hallmark of animal biology, but the evolutionary origins myocytes are unknown. Although believed to lack muscles, sponges (Porifera) capable coordinated whole-body contractions that purge debris from internal water canals. This behavior has been observed for decades, their contractile tissues remain uncharacterized with respect ultrastructure, regulation, and development. We examine sponge Ephydatia muelleri find tissue-wide organization module composed actin,...
Cnidaria have traditionally been viewed as the most basal animals with complex, organ-like multicellular structures dedicated to sensory perception. However, sponges also a surprising range of genes required for and neural functions in Bilateria. Here, we: (1) discuss "sense organ" regulatory genes, including; sine oculis, Brain 3, eyes absent, that are expressed cnidarian sense organs; (2) assess features planula, polyp, medusa life-history stages Cnidaria; (3) physiological molecular data...
Water management by woody species encompasses characters involved in seeking, transporting and evaporating water. Examples of adaptation individual to water availability are common, but little is known about the adaptability whole-plant management. Here we use plant hydration growth examine variation characteristics within conifer genus Callitris. Using four that cover environmental extremes Australian continent, compare seasonal patterns over 2 years determine extent which exhibit adaptive...
The microvillus is a versatile organelle that serves important functions in disparate animal cell types. However, from molecular perspective, the has been well studied only few, predominantly vertebrate, contexts. Little known about how differences microvillar structure contribute to function, and these evolved. We sequenced transcriptome of freshwater sponge, Ephydatia muelleri, examined expression vertebrate gene homologs choanocytes—the microvilli-bearing type present sponges. Sponges...
Freshwater sponges fulfill critical ecological functions, including maintaining water quality, regulating nutrient dynamics, offering habitats for diverse taxa, and serving as a vital food source various species. However, their patterns of dispersal genetic connectivity remain inadequately understood, posing significant challenges to effective conservation assessments. We examined adaptation local environmental conditions in Ephydatia muelleri across its geographic range using...
β-Catenin acts as a transcriptional coactivator in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and cytoplasmic effector cadherin-based cell adhesion. These functions are ancient within animals, but earliest steps β-catenin evolution remain unresolved due to limited data from key lineages—sponges, ctenophores, placozoans. Previous studies sponges have characterized expression dynamics used GSK3B antagonists ectopically activate pathway; both approaches rely upon untested assumptions about...
Abstract SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Its high pathogenicity due to spike protein (S protein) contacting host-cell receptors. A critical hallmark of occurrence coagulopathies. Here, we report direct observation interactions between S and platelets. Live imaging shows that triggers platelets deform dynamically, in some cases, leading their irreversible activation. Cellular cryo-electron tomography reveals dense decorations on platelet surface,...
We have characterised the northern Pacific undescribed sponge Haliclona (?gellius) sp. based on rDNA of and its associated microorganisms. The is closely related to Amphimedon queenslandica from Great Barrier Reef as near-complete 18S sequences both sponges were identical. microbial fingerprint three specimens harvested at different times a transplanted specimen was compared identify stably Most bacterial phyla detected in each sample, but only few species determined be with sponge. A...
The homoscleromorph sponge Oscarella carmela, first described from central California, USA is shown to represent two superficially similar but both morphologically and phylogenetically distinct species that are co-distributed. We here describe a new as pearsei, sp. nov. re-describe carmela; the original description was based upon material species. Further, we correct identification of published genomic/transcriptomic resources were originally attributed O. present Illumina-sequenced...
The evolution of cell-adhesion mechanisms in animals facilitated the assembly organized multicellular tissues. Studies traditional animal models have revealed two predominant adhesion structures, adherens junction (AJ) and focal adhesions (FAs), which are involved attachment neighboring cells to each other secreted extracellular matrix (ECM), respectively. AJ (containing cadherins catenins) FAs (comprising integrins, talin, paxillin) differ protein composition, but both junctions contain...
To characterize the beta-lactam resistance mechanisms of two clinical isolates cefotaxime-resistant Haemophilus parainfluenzae recovered from patients in South Africa.The relatedness and plasmids was assessed using PFGE restriction enzyme analysis, respectively. Plasmid-mediated chromosomally integrated bla(TEM) genes ftsI were sequenced, plasmid-mediated bla(TEM-15) used to transform a range control organisms.The found be unique according PFGE, but had an identical 3.7 kb plasmid encoding...
The integrity and organization of animal tissues depend upon specialized protein complexes that mediate adhesion between cells with each other (cadherin-based adherens junctions), the extracellular matrix (integrin-based focal adhesions). Reconstructing how when these cell junctions evolved is central to understanding early tissue evolution in animals. We examined homologs freshwater sponge, Ephydatia muelleri (phylum Porifera; class Demospongiae). Our principal findings are (1) sponge...