Biomedical subjects

M T Dixon

Publications and source records attributed to M T Dixon.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Bat ectoparasites from the Trans-Pecos region of Texas, including notes from Big Bend National Park.

Ectoparasites of 13 species of molossid, mormoopid, and vespertilionid bats from the Trans-Pecos region of Texas were studied, as follows: Antrozous pallidus (LeConte), Corynorhinus townsendii (Cooper), Eptesicus fuscus (Palisot de Beauvois), Lasiurus cinereus (Palisot de Beauvois), Mormoops megalophylla (Peters), Myotis thysanodes G. S. Miller, Myotis velifer (J. A. Allen), Myotis volans (H. Allen), Myotis yumanensis (H. Allen), Nyctinomops femorosaccus (Merriam), Nyctinomops macrotis (Gray), Pipistrellus hesperus (H. Allen), and Tadarida brasiliensis (I. Geof. St.-Hilaire). The bats were netted, examined for ectoparasites and released. Ectoparasites recovered included three species of flea, three species of streblid, three species of nycteribiid, two species of cimicid, two species of tick, and 17 species of mite. New ectoparasite records are given for hosts in seven instances and for the Trans-Pecos region of Texas in three instances.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Ribosomal RNA secondary structure: compensatory mutations and implications for phylogenetic analysis.

Using sequence data from the 28S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes of selected vertebrates, we investigated the effects that constraints imposed by secondary structure have on the phylogenetic analysis of rRNA sequence data. Our analysis indicates that characters from both base-pairing regions (stems) and non-base-pairing regions (loops) contain phylogenetic information, as judged by the level of support of the phylogenetic results compared with a well-established tree based on both morphological and molecular data. The best results (the greatest level of support of well-accepted nodes) were obtained when the complete data set was used. However, some previously supported nodes were resolved using either the stem or loop bases alone. Stem bases sustain a greater number of compensatory mutations than would be expected at random, but the number is < 40% of that expected under a hypothesis of perfect compensation to maintain secondary structure. Therefore, we suggest that in phylogenetic analyses, the weighting of stem characters be reduced by no more than 20%, relative to that of loop characters. In contrast to previous suggestions, we do not recommend weighting of stem positions by one-half, compared with that of loop positions, because this overcompensates for the constraints that selection imposes on the secondary structure of rRNA.

Animal Population Groups↗

PubMed1991

Ribosomal DNA: molecular evolution and phylogenetic inference.

Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences have been aligned and compared in a number of living organisms, and this approach has provided a wealth of information about phylogenetic relationships. Studies of rDNA sequences have been used to infer phylogenetic history across a very broad spectrum, from studies among the basal lineages of life to relationships among closely related species and populations. The reasons for the systematic versatility of rDNA include the numerous rates of evolution among different regions of rDNA (both among and within genes), the presence of many copies of most rDNA sequences per genome, and the pattern of concerted evolution that occurs among repeated copies. These features facilitate the analysis of rDNA by direct RNA sequencing, DNA sequencing (either by cloning or amplification), and restriction enzyme methodologies. Constraints imposed by secondary structure of rRNA and concerted evolution need to be considered in phylogenetic analyses, but these constraints do not appear to impede seriously the usefulness of rDNA. An analysis of aligned sequences of the four nuclear and two mitochondrial rRNA genes identified regions of these genes that are likely to be useful to address phylogenetic problems over a wide range of levels of divergence. In general, the small subunit nuclear sequences appear to be best for elucidating Precambrian divergences, the large subunit nuclear sequences for Paleozoic and Mesozoic divergences, and the organellar sequences of both subunits for Cenozoic divergences. Primer sequences were designed for use in amplifying the entire nuclear rDNA array in 15 sections by use of the polymerase chain reaction; these "universal" primers complement previously described primers for the mitochondrial rRNA genes. Pairs of primers can be selected in conjunction with the analysis of divergence of the rRNA genes to address systematic problems throughout the hierarchy of life.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

Diabetic pregnancy. Changes in lectin binding to the surface of rat lung alveolar epithelial cells.

The binding of the lectins concanavalin A (Con A) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) to the luminal surface of lung alveolar epithelial cells was compared in normal rats and rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes and their offspring. Lung tissue was lavaged, then fixed in situ with 3% glutaraldehyde. Buffer-rinsed slices of lung were incubated in Con A, WGA, or various control media. Lectin binding sites were visualized by the use of the peroxidase method. Normal neonates and those that were the results of diabetic pregnancies showed a hexose-specific Con A and WGA binding pattern qualitatively similar to that of normal and diabetic adults, respectively. In the normal animals, Con A binding sites were masked by sialic acid residues and were removable with alpha-mannosidase after neuraminidase treatment. In the diabetic adults and their offspring, one the other hand, Con A binding sites were readily accessible and were totally removed only by sequential treatment with alpha-mannosidase and alpha-glucosidase. WGA binding was essentially eliminated with neuraminidase in all animals except in the neonates from diabetic pregnancies, where N-acetyl-glucosaminidase was also required. The effects of maternal diabetes were reversible and occurred about Day 7 postpartum in the neonate. The effects were also reversible following insulin replacement in the diabetic adult.

Animals↗