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1. The call of the wild: using non-model systems to investigate microbiome–behaviour relationships

   https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.224485  

   Cusick, Jessica A.; Wellman, Cara L.; Demas, Gregory E. (May 2021, Journal of Experimental Biology)

   null (Ed.)

   ABSTRACT On and within most sites across an animal's body live complex communities of microorganisms. These microorganisms perform a variety of important functions for their hosts, including communicating with the brain, immune system and endocrine axes to mediate physiological processes and affect individual behaviour. Microbiome research has primarily focused on the functions of the microbiome within the gastrointestinal tract (gut microbiome) using biomedically relevant laboratory species (i.e. model organisms). These studies have identified important connections between the gut microbiome and host immune, neuroendocrine and nervous systems, as well as how these connections, in turn, influence host behaviour and health. Recently, the field has expanded beyond traditional model systems as it has become apparent that the microbiome can drive differences in behaviour and diet, play a fundamental role in host fitness and influence community-scale dynamics in wild populations. In this Review, we highlight the value of conducting hypothesis-driven research in non-model organisms and the benefits of a comparative approach that assesses patterns across different species or taxa. Using social behaviour as an intellectual framework, we review the bidirectional relationship between the gut microbiome and host behaviour, and identify understudied mechanisms by which these effects may be mediated. 

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2. Deep Diversity: Extensive Variation in the Components of Complex Visual Systems across Animals

   https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11243966  

   Vöcking, Oliver; Macias-Muñoz, Aide; Jaeger, Stuart J.; Oakley, Todd H. (December 2022, Cells)

   Understanding the molecular underpinnings of the evolution of complex (multi-part) systems is a fundamental topic in biology. One unanswered question is to what the extent do similar or different genes and regulatory interactions underlie similar complex systems across species? Animal eyes and phototransduction (light detection) are outstanding systems to investigate this question because some of the genetics underlying these traits are well characterized in model organisms. However, comparative studies using non-model organisms are also necessary to understand the diversity and evolution of these traits. Here, we compare the characteristics of photoreceptor cells, opsins, and phototransduction cascades in diverse taxa, with a particular focus on cnidarians. In contrast to the common theme of deep homology, whereby similar traits develop mainly using homologous genes, comparisons of visual systems, especially in non-model organisms, are beginning to highlight a “deep diversity” of underlying components, illustrating how variation can underlie similar complex systems across taxa. Although using candidate genes from model organisms across diversity was a good starting point to understand the evolution of complex systems, unbiased genome-wide comparisons and subsequent functional validation will be necessary to uncover unique genes that comprise the complex systems of non-model groups to better understand biodiversity and its evolution. 

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3. Who’s talking to whom: microbiome-enteric nervous system interactions in early life

   https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpgi.00166.2022  

   Ganz, Julia; Ratcliffe, Elyanne M. (March 2023, American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology)

   The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the intrinsic nervous system of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and regulates important GI functions, including motility, nutrient uptake, and immune response. The development of the ENS begins during early organogenesis and continues to develop once feeding begins, with ongoing plasticity into adulthood. There has been increasing recognition that the intestinal microbiota and ENS interact during critical periods, with implications for normal development and potential disease pathogenesis. In this review, we focus on insights from mouse and zebrafish model systems to compare and contrast how each model can serve in elucidating the bidirectional communication between the ENS and the microbiome. At the end of this review, we further outline implications for human disease and highlight research innovations that can lead the field forward. 

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4. A Review of Human Immune Inspired Algorithms for Intrusion Detection Systems

   https://doi.org/10.1109/AIIoT54504.2022.9817213  

   Duru, Chukwuemeka; Ladeji-Osias, Jumoke; Wandji, Ketchiozo; Otily, Toutsop; Kone, Rachida (June 2022, 2022 World AI IoT Congress (AIIOT))

   Security and trust of Information Systems are critical in its design as they directly influence users' view and acceptance of such systems. Security can be said to be a contextual and dynamic term as there has not been a holistic, universal, and eternal security measure to date. Recent years have seen a lot of confidential and sensitive information being sent, received, and analyzed on the Internet, and a plethora of investigations on ways of developing comprehensive security solutions like encryptions, pattern recognition, and anomaly detection. This work reviews the human inspired algorithms that are particularly employed in pattern recognition and anomaly detection problems. The work discusses the components of the immune system that inspired the artificial Immune System (AIS) based algorithms for pattern and intrusion detection (IDS) problems. A detailed comparison is made between negative selection, clonal selection, and dendritic cell algorithms (danger theory) which are the three major AIS algorithms. AIS is ubiquitous in computer and information security because it is based on the theories developed through years of study and understanding of the human immune system by immunologist. The strengths and weaknesses of these algorithms are also discussed, and possible improvement suggested. 

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5. Diverse roles for axon guidance pathways in adult tissue architecture and function

   https://doi.org/10.1002/ntls.20220021  

   Laws, Kaitlin M.; Bashaw, Greg J. (October 2022, Natural Sciences)

   Abstract Classical axon guidance ligands and their neuronal receptors were first identified due to their fundamental roles in regulating connectivity in the developing nervous system. Since their initial discovery, it has become clear that these signaling molecules play important roles in the development of a broad array of tissue and organ systems across phylogeny. In addition to these diverse developmental roles, there is a growing appreciation that guidance signaling pathways have important functions in adult organisms, including the regulation of tissue integrity and homeostasis. These roles in adult organisms include both tissue‐intrinsic activities of guidance molecules, as well as systemic effects on tissue maintenance and function mediated by the nervous and vascular systems. While many of these adult functions depend on mechanisms that mirror developmental activities, such as regulating adhesion and cell motility, there are also examples of adult roles that may reflect signaling activities that are distinct from known developmental mechanisms, including the contributions of guidance signaling pathways to lineage commitment in the intestinal epithelium and bone remodeling in vertebrates. In this review, we highlight studies of guidance receptors and their ligands in adult tissues outside of the nervous system, focusing on in vivo experimental contexts. Together, these studies lay the groundwork for future investigation into the conserved and tissue‐specific mechanisms of guidance receptor signaling in adult tissues. Key PointsAxon guidance ligand and receptor expression often persist into adulthood in neuronal and non‐neuronal tissues alike.Recent work in genetic model organisms highlights the diverse roles of guidance factors in adult tissues.Guidance factors are required intrinsically in a variety of adult tissues but can also regulate tissue function indirectly via functions in the nervous and vascular systems.Studies outside of the nervous system are likely to enhance our understanding of these diverse siganling molecules and could suggest novel signaling modalities in the nervous system. 

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