A5003750110- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Hemiptera Insect Studies
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Plant and animal studies
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Biomimetic flight and propulsion mechanisms
- Healthcare and Venom Research
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
Clemson University
2018-2025
University of Central Florida
2010-2022
University of Miami
2009
Indiana University Bloomington
1999-2005
Academia Sinica
2000
Phylogenetic relationships among the five groups of extant seed plants are presently quite unclear. For example, morphological studies consistently identify Gnetales as sister group to angiosperms (the so-called “anthophyte” hypothesis), whereas a number molecular recover gymnosperm monophyly, and few agree with morphology-based placement Gnetales. To better resolve these other unsettled issues, we have generated new data set mitochondrial small subunit rRNA sequences, analyzed together...
How should characters and taxa be sampled to resolve efficiently the phylogeny of ancient highly speciose groups? We addressed this question empirically in treefrog family Hylidae, which contains > 800 species may nonmonophyletic with respect other anuran families. 81 (54 hylids 27 outgroups) for two mitochondrial genes (12S, ND1), nuclear (POMC, c-myc), morphology (144 characters) an attempt higher-level relationships. then added 117 combined data set, many were only one gene (12S). Despite...
Documented cases of convergent molecular evolution due to selection are fairly unusual, and examples date have involved only a few amino acid positions. However, because convergence mimics shared ancestry is not accommodated by current phylogenetic methods, it can strongly mislead inference when does occur. Here, we present case extensive between snake agamid lizard mitochondrial genomes that overcomes an otherwise strong signal. Evidence from morphology, nuclear genes, most sites in the...
Phylogenetic studies incorporating multiple loci, and genomes, are becoming increasingly common. Coincident with this trend in genetic sampling, model-based likelihood techniques including Bayesian phylogenetic methods continue to gain popularity. Few studies, however, have examined model fit sensitivity such potentially heterogeneous data partitions within combined analyses using empirical data. Here we investigate the relative of when alternative site-specific among-site rate variation...
Abstract Aim We used inferences of phylogenetic relationships and divergence times for three lineages highland pitvipers to identify broad‐scale historical events that have shaped the evolutionary history Middle American taxa, test previous hypotheses Neotropical speciation. Location America (Central Mexico). Methods 2306 base pairs mitochondrial gene sequences from 178 individuals estimate phylogeny New World pitviper lineages, focusing on genera ( Atropoides , Bothriechis Cerrophidion )...
Abstract Background Rates of synonymous nucleotide substitutions are, in general, exceptionally low plant mitochondrial genomes, several times lower than chloroplast 10–20 nuclear and 50–100 many animal genomes. Several cases moderate variation substitution rates have been reported plants, but these mostly involve correlated changes and/or are therefore thought to reflect whole-organism forces rather ones impinging directly on the mutation rate. Only a single case extensive,...
Understanding how historical processes have either similarly, or differentially, shaped the evolution of lineages biotic assemblages is important for a broad spectrum fields. Gaining such understanding can be particularly challenging, however, especially regions that complex geologic and biological history. In this study we apply comparative approach to distill regional biogeographic perspectives, by characterizing sets divergence times major boundaries estimated from multiple codistributed...
species in the genus Bothrops s. l. are extraordinarily variable ecology and geography, compared with other genera subfamily Crotalinae. In contrast to trend of splitting large groups into smaller, more ecologically phenotypically cohesive genera, has remained speciesose. addition, previous phylogenetic analyses have found be paraphyletic respect Bothriopsis. Taxonomic arguments exist for synonymizing Bothriopsis Bothrops, smaller but greatest hindrance taxonomic revision been incomplete...
Significance Why biological complexity evolves is a major question in the life sciences, but specific selection pressures favoring simple or complex traits remain unclear. Using high-resolution measurements of venom North American pitvipers, we link changes to natural history via phylogenetic diversity snake diets. The results indicate that response community species, likely reflecting divergence physiological targets venom. nature species community, rather than their richness alone, an...
Significance A central question in biology is whether trait differences are the result of variation gene number, sequence, or regulation. Snake venoms an excellent system for addressing this because their genetic tractability, contributions to fitness, and high evolutionary rates. We sequenced assembled genome Tiger Rattlesnake determine simplest rattlesnake venom was product a simple complex genotype. The number genes greatly exceeded proteins producing phenotype, indicating regulatory...
Developmental phenotypic changes can evolve under selection imposed by age- and size-related ecological differences. Many of these occur through programmed alterations to gene expression patterns, but the molecular mechanisms gene-regulatory networks underlying adaptive remain poorly understood. venomous snakes, including eastern diamondback rattlesnake ( Crotalus adamanteus ), undergo correlated in diet venom as snakes grow larger with age, providing models for identifying timed that...
Abstract Background The mitochondrial genomes of snakes are characterized by an overall evolutionary rate that appears to be one the most accelerated among vertebrates. They also possess other unusual features, including short tRNAs and genes, a duplicated control region has been stably maintained since it originated more than 70 million years ago. Here, we provide detailed analysis dynamics in snake better understand basis these extreme characteristics, explore relationship between genome...
Abstract Background Estimates of relationships among Staphylococcus species have been hampered by poor and inconsistent resolution phylogenies based largely on single gene analyses incorporating only a limited taxon sample. As such, the evolutionary hierarchical classification schemes not confidently established. Here, we address these points through DNA sequence data from multiple loci (16S rRNA gene, dnaJ, rpoB, tuf fragments) using Bayesian maximum likelihood phylogenetic approaches that...
<h3>Abstract</h3> Although variations in centromeres have been linked to cancer and infertility, still represent the “dark matter of human genome” remain an enigma for both biomedical evolutionary studies. Since withstood all previous attempts develop automated tool their assembly since using short reads is viewed as intractable, recent efforts attempted manually assemble long error-prone reads. We describe centroFlye algorithm centromere reads, apply it assembling X centromere, use...
Venom-gland transcriptomics is a key tool in the study of evolution, ecology, function, and pharmacology animal venoms. In particular, gene-expression variation coding sequences gained through provide information for explaining functional venom over both ecological evolutionary timescales. The accuracy usefulness inferences made transcriptomics, however, limited by transcriptome assembly, which bioinformatic problem with several possible solutions. Several methods have been employed to...
Background Higher viral loads in SARS-CoV-2 infections may be linked to more rapid spread of emerging variants concern (VOC). Rapid detection and isolation cases with highest loads, even pre- or asymptomatic individuals, is essential for the mitigation community outbreaks. Methods findings In this study, we analyze Ct values from 1297 positive patient saliva samples collected at Clemson University testing lab upstate South Carolina. Samples were identified as using RT-qPCR, clade information...
Snakes are a remarkable squamate lineage with unique morphological adaptations, especially those related to the evolution of vertebrate skeletons, organs, and sensory systems. To clarify genetic underpinnings snake phenotypes, we assembled analyzed 14 de novo genomes from 12 families. We also investigated basis characteristics snakes using functional experiments. identified genes, regulatory elements, structural variations that have potentially contributed limb loss, an elongated body plan,...
Systematics of the snake subfamily Crotalinae (Serpentes: Viperidae) were investigated by means mtDNA (12S and 16S rDNA sequences); 45 species, which included all genera, sequenced analyzed using both maximum parsimony (MP) likelihood (ML) as optimality criteria. Differential a priori weighting methods employed, because there was transition bias within data. All analyses support Azemiops feae sister to monophyletic Crotalinae. The New World pitvipers are monophyletic, but identification...
Abstract Background Staphylococcus aureus ( SA ) nasal colonization plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of staphylococcal infections and eradication from nares has proven to be effective reducing endogenous infections. To understand its relation with consequent disease, assessment carriage dynamics genotypic diversity among diverse population is necessity. Results We have performed extensive longitudinal monitoring isolates 109 healthy individuals over period up three years....