Numerous association studies have been involved in studying the angiotensinogen (AGT) variants, AG T plasma levels and relations to cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease. To investigate a role of AGT G(-6)A and M235T genetic variants for chronic heart failure (CHF) and advanced atherosclerosis (AA), a total of 240 patients with CHF and 200 patients with AA of the Czech origin were evaluated for the study. The study shows the role of polymorphism AGT G(-6)A in genetic background among advanced atherosclerosis patients and chronic heart failure patients (Pg=0.001). This difference was also observed in comparison of AA patients with subgroup of CHF with dilated cardiomyopathy (Pg=0.02; Pa=0.009), and ischemic heart disease (Pg=0.007). The greatest difference between triple-vessel disease and chronic heart failure groups was observed in freque ncy of GT haplotype (P<0.001) and GGMT associated genotype (P <0.001). Retrospectively, we found the same trend when the subgroups of CHF were compared to AA group (AA vs. IHD with CHF P<0.001; AA vs. DCM P<0.001). These results suggest AGT genetic variants as a risk factor for chronic heart failure compared to advanced atherosclerosis disease without heart failure, with a strong difference between IHD patients and chronic heart failure patients with ischemic heart disease, especially in haplotypes and associated genotypes., M. Pávková Goldbergová ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a well-studied species in terms of its colour polymorphism, where it occurs as two distinct colour morphs, red and green. It is proposed that the occurrence and maintenance of this polymorphism is an adaptive response to environmental factors, in particular natural enemies and host plant quality. We hypothesized that these adaptations are directly mirrored in the energy reserves accumulated by the different colour morphs during their pre-adult stages and reflect their specialization for particular ecological roles. We quantitatively measured the different energy reserves of red and green pea aphids and found that the total energy reserves of these morphs did not differ. Interestingly, these reserves were made up of different components in the red and green colour morphs. There was a higher percentage content of water-soluble carbohydrates and lipids in the red clones and higher percentage content of protein in green clones. These finding are in accordance with green clones being more fecund than red ones and needing more protein for reproduction than red clones, which produce more winged offspring when crowded or in response to the presence of natural enemies and so, need more lipids and carbohydrates to fuel their walking and flight. Apparently, different colour morphs are physiologically specialized to adjust their energy reserves in relation to their specific ecological adaptations and maximize their fitness in terms of dispersal, reproduction, defense and survival., Seyed Mohammad Ahsaei ... []., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Diapause intensity (DI) is a physiological trait represented by the duration of diapause under given conditions of environment. In many species, it is highly variable, probably being controlled by multiple genes and tends to form a cline in response to the latitudinal gradient of selection pressure. DI clines could be established artificially by crossing between lines of a cricket selected for different levels of DI, indicating the importance of genetic factors in the adaptive variation of DI. However, DI may be modified in response to seasonal cues both before and after the onset of diapause. Polymorphism in the intensity of prolonged diapause may split adults of a single population to emerge in different years. A unimodal distribution of DI may also result in polymodal termination of diapause, if DI variation is so large that chilling in one winter is not enough to terminate diapause for all members of a population. Bimodal termination of diapause after overwintering suggests heterogeneity in the final phase of diapause that requires high temperatures in spring. Polymodal termination of diapause subserves a bet-hedging strategy. Variability in DI thus provides insects with an important means of adaptation to their environments changing in space and time.
Genetic predispositions may influence geographical and interethnic differences in COVID-19 prevalence and mortality in affected populations. Of the many genes implicated in COVID-19 progression, a substantial number have no direct functional link on virus transfer/viability or on the host immune system. To address this knowledge deficit, a large number of in silico studies have recently been published. However, the results of these studies often contradict the findings of studies involving real patients. For example, the ACE2 has been shown to play an important role in regulating coronavirus entry into cells, but none of its variations have been directly associated with COVID19 susceptibility or severity. Consistently was reported that increased risk of COVID-19 is associated with blood group A and with the APOE4 allele. Among other genes with potential impacts are the genes for CCR5, IL-10, CD14, TMPRSS2 and angiotensinconverting enzyme. Variants within the protein-coding genes OAS1 and LZTFL1 (transferred to the human genome from Neanderthals) are understood to be among the strongest predictors of disease severity. The intensive research efforts have helped to identify the genes and polymorphisms that contribute to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity.
The FTO gene variants are the most important genetic determinants of body weight and obesity known so far, but the mechanism of their effect remain s unclear. We have analyzed FTO rs17817449 variant (G>T in first intron) in 6024 adults aged 45-69 years to assess the potential mediating role of diet and physical activity. Diet was assessed by a 140-item food frequency questionnaire. Physical activity was measured by hours spent during a typical week by sport, walking and other activities outside of work requiring heavy and medium physical activity. Basal metabolic rate was calculated according Schofield formula. The FTO variant was significantly associated with body mass index (means in GG, GT and TT ca rriers were 28.7, 28.2 and 27.8 kg/m 2 , p<0.001) and basal metabolic rate (BMR) (means in GG, GT and TT were 1603, 1588 and 1576 kcal per day, respectively, p<0.008) but it was not associated with physical activity, total energy intake or with energy intakes from fat, carbohydrates, proteins or alcohol. Results were essentially similar in men and women and the adjustment for physical activity or dietary energy intake did not reduce the effect of the FTO polymorphism. Means of BMR per kg of body weight was lowest in GG carriers (20.09, 20.21 for GT and 20.30 for TT, p< 0.006) and this effect was more pronounced in females. These results suggest that the effect of the FTO rs17817449 variant on BMI in Caucasian adults is not mediated by energy intake or physical activity, but some effect on BMR per kg of body weight is possible., J. A. Hubáček ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Black rats (Rattus rattus) are native to the Indian subcontinent but have now colonized most continents and islands following human movements and international trade. They are involved in the circulation and transmission to humans of many zoonotic agents as well as in massive damage to food stocks and native biodiversity in the regions they have settled. This study investigates the genetic diversity and possible origins of black rats from Benin, West Africa. We sequenced the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene in 90 individuals from nine localities in Benin. These sequences were subsequently compared to 390 other cytochrome b haplotypes from individuals from various European, Asian, American and African localities. Nucleotide polymorphism analysis, haplotype network and maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree reconstructions showed low mitochondrial diversity in black rats from Benin. Our results also suggest at least two distinct introduction events: one introduction probably occurred during the spice trade (15th-17th century) through the Indies Road connecting Europe to Asia. Other introduction events could have occurred more recently following the intensification of globalized trade from the eighteenth century, and onwards.
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is one of the most commonly performed operations worldwide. We compared genotype frequencies of three major cardiovascular disease (CVD)-associated genetic markers (ANRIL, FTO and 2q36.3 locus) between 753 patients who underwent CABG at the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (Prague, Czech Republic) and 2,559 controls from the Czech post-MONICA study. Subjects with at least one major A allele in the rs10757274 polymorphism (ANRIL) were more prevalent in patients after CABG than in the controls (81.7 % vs 72.7 %; OR [95 % CI] 1.67 [1.35-2.05]; P < 0.0001). In contrast, variants within the FTO gene (OR 0.87; 95% CI, 0.70-1. 09 in a TT vs. GG comparison, P = 0.24) and 2q36.3 locus (OR 1.16; 95% CI, 0.98-1.37 in a +A vs. CC comparison, P = 0.08) were not significantly associated with CVD in our study. Variants were not associated with anthropometric, biochemical, or clinical characteristics within the patient group. Our study suggests that patients with CABG are more commonly carriers of some but not all CVD-associated alleles.
The issue of plasma triglyceride levels relative to the risk of development of cardiovascular disease, as well as overall mortality, has been actively discussed for many years. Like other cardiovascular disease risk factors, final plasma TG values have environmental influences (primarily dietary habits, physical activity, and smoking), and a genetic predisposition. Rare mutations (mainly in the lipoprotein lipase and apolipoprotein C2) along with common polymorph isms (within apolipoprotein A5, glucokinase regulatory protein, apolipoprotein B, apolipo - protein E, cAMP responsive element binding protein 3 -like 3 , glycosylphosphatidylinositol- anchored HDL -binding protein 1) play an important role in determining plasma TG levels., L. Schwarzova, J. A. Hubacek, M. Vrablik., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The distribution patterns of the X0/XX and neo-XY/neo-XX chromosome races, subraces, and "hybrids" between subraces of the grasshopper P. sapporensis were analyzed. The origin of the observed variation is Robertsonian translocations between a sex chromosome and an autosome, and chromosome rearrangements. The fixation levels of inversions varied depending on geographic regions. No hybrid population is known implying that a strong reproductive isolation system exists in hybrids between the different chromosomal races. The probable reasons for the purity of X0 and neo-XY chromosome races and high chromosome polymorphism in contact zones between chromosomal subraces are discussed. The presence of isolating barriers between chromosome races indicates a review of the taxonomic structure of P. sapporensis is required. It is proposed to divide P. sapporensis into two sibling species, which differ in the chromosome mechanisms of the sex determination system.The analysis of the distribution of chromosomal races and subraces of P. sapporensis allows a reconstruction of the history of this species in the Okhotsk sea region.
The morphology, physiology, behaviour and ecology of spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus dispersus Russell (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on different host plants differ greatly. The genetic differences between the A. dispersus populations on 17 host plants were evaluated in the current study. Microsatellite markers were used to identify the presence of host-related genetic variation among A. dispersus populations. Our research clearly shows that there is a significant amount of genetic divergence among the A. dispersus populations on 17 host plants in India. The spiralling whitefly on acalypha and calotropis were genetically more distinct than whiteflies on other host plants. Various population genetic parameters, like heterozygosity, Nei's genetic distance, fixation indices (FST), source of genetic variation in AMOVA, etc. indicate that populations of spiralling whiteflies differ greatly genetically, probably because the spiralling whitefly populations on the Indian sub-continent came from multiple sources. The results of this study have implications for the quarantine protection strategy against this invasive pest.