phylogeny Archives - World Asthma Foundation

Alternaria alternata allergens: Markers of exposure, phylogeny and risk of fungi-induced respiratory allergy.

Environ Int. 2016 Jan 27;89-90:71-80

Authors: Gabriel MF, Postigo I, Tomaz CT, Martínez J

Abstract
Alternaria alternata spores are considered a well-known biological contaminant and a very common potent aeroallergen source that is found in environmental samples. The most intense exposure to A. alternata allergens is likely to occur outdoors; however, Alternaria and other allergenic fungi can colonize in indoor environments and thereby increase the fungal aeroallergen exposure levels. A consequence of human exposure to fungal aeroallergens, sensitization to A. alternata, has been unequivocally associated with increased asthma severity. Among allergenic proteins described in this fungal specie, the major allergen, Alt a 1, has been reported as the main elicitor of airborne allergies in patients affected by a mold allergy and considered a marker of primary sensitization to A. alternata. Moreover, A. alternata sensitization seems to be a triggering factor in the development of poly-sensitization, most likely because of the capability of A. alternata to produce, in addition to Alt a 1, a broad and complex array of cross-reactive allergens that present homologs in several other allergenic sources. The study and understanding of A. alternata allergen information may be the key to explaining why sensitization to A. alternata is a risk factor for asthma and also why the severity of asthma is associated to this mold. Compared to other common environmental allergenic sources, such as pollens and dust mites, fungi are reported to be neglected and underestimated. The rise of the A. alternata allergy has enabled more research into the role of this fungal specie and its allergenic components in the induction of IgE-mediated respiratory diseases. Indeed, recent research on the identification and characterization of A. alternata allergens has allowed for the consideration of new perspectives in the categorization of allergenic molds, assessment of exposure and diagnosis of fungi-induced allergies.

PMID: 26826364 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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mtDNA sequence, phylogeny and evolution of laboratory mice.

Mitochondrion. 2014 Jul 16;

Authors: Zheng J, Chen Y, Deng F, Huang R, Petersen F, Ibrahim S, Yu X

Abstract
Laboratory mice are important tools for biomedical research. Aiming to investigate the phylogeny and evolution of laboratory mice, we investigated the mtDNA sequences of classical inbred strains, classical outbred stocks and wild-derived inbred strains. Our results showed that the most classical outbred stocks and classical inbred strains are descended from a single mtDNA ancestor. The phylogenic analysis supports the topology of M. m. castaneus / M. m. domesticus as sister subspecies, and the divergence time between the two sister subspecies and M. m. musculus was 493,000 (435,000-557,000) years ago. Furthermore, the mtDNA polymorphisms accumulated in the last 100years in the laboratory mice are under a relaxed purifying selection.

PMID: 25038446 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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