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Adaptive evolution of Toll-like receptors in birds
Velová, Hana ; Vinkler, Michal (advisor) ; Elleder, Daniel (referee) ; Novák, Karel (referee)
Adaptive evolution of Toll-like receptors in birds Hana Velová, PhD thesis 6 Abstract Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are one of the key and presumably also evolutionary most original components of animal immune system. As Pattern recognition receptors they form the first line of innate immune defence against various pathogens. The proper receptor binding of pathogenic ligands is crucial for their correct recognition and for subsequent triggering of an appropriate immune response. Because there exists a direct interaction between the receptor surface and the pathogenic ligand, host-pathogen coevolution on molecular level can be predicted. Thus, through variability of their ligands, TLRs are exposed to extensive selective pressures that may be detected on both genetic and protein levels. Surprisingly, the variability we revealed in birds is even higher than previously expected based on the reports from other vertebrates, mainly mammals. In my doctoral thesis I summarise the results of my contribution to the avian TLR research. We were the first who experimentally verify the absence of functional TLR5 in several avian species and duplication of TLR7 in others. We finally resolved the origin of duplication in TLR1 and in TLR2 family. An important part of my research project focused on the prediction of potentially...
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Adaptive evolution of Toll-like receptors in birds
Velová, Hana ; Vinkler, Michal (advisor) ; Elleder, Daniel (referee) ; Novák, Karel (referee)
Adaptive evolution of Toll-like receptors in birds Hana Velová, PhD thesis 6 Abstract Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are one of the key and presumably also evolutionary most original components of animal immune system. As Pattern recognition receptors they form the first line of innate immune defence against various pathogens. The proper receptor binding of pathogenic ligands is crucial for their correct recognition and for subsequent triggering of an appropriate immune response. Because there exists a direct interaction between the receptor surface and the pathogenic ligand, host-pathogen coevolution on molecular level can be predicted. Thus, through variability of their ligands, TLRs are exposed to extensive selective pressures that may be detected on both genetic and protein levels. Surprisingly, the variability we revealed in birds is even higher than previously expected based on the reports from other vertebrates, mainly mammals. In my doctoral thesis I summarise the results of my contribution to the avian TLR research. We were the first who experimentally verify the absence of functional TLR5 in several avian species and duplication of TLR7 in others. We finally resolved the origin of duplication in TLR1 and in TLR2 family. An important part of my research project focused on the prediction of potentially...
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Phylogeography and adaptive evolution of the grey wolf
Veselovská, Lenka ; Hulva, Pavel (advisor) ; Fornůsková, Alena (referee)
Grey wolf is a highly mobile top predator, a keystone and umbrella species within ecosystems throughout the Holarctic area. The occurrence of wolves' populations is influenced by glacial history, environmental conditions and human activity. Nowadays, wolves are returning to a man-altered country where they were exterminated, and they are adapting to human dominated landscape. People have largely contributed to its extinction in many areas around the world, resulting in a decline in genetic diversity. Due to different demographic and environmental conditions, many different lineages have evolved, which can be distinguished based on morphological and genetic analyses. Climatic factors can result in the formation of ecotypes, which become heritable and genetically distinguishable. The aim of this thesis is to provide a comprehensive overview of the phylogeography and adaptive evolution of the grey wolf in the context of genetic, geographical and morphological combination data. Keywords: grey wolf, Canis lupus, phylogeography, ecotypes, adaptive evolution
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Neo-sex chromosomes and adaptive potential in tortricid pests
SÝKOROVÁ, Miroslava
Although most of moths and butterflies possess high number of small undifferentiated chromosomes, in the family Tortricidae extraordinary large Z chromosome has been observed. In this study, the physical mapping of this sex chromosome in the major pome fruit pest Cydia pomonella (Tortricidae) revealed a fusion between an ancestral Z chromosome and chromosome 15 in Bombyx mori reference genome. Furthermore, the sex linkage analysis by qPCR has shown that the rearrangement originated in common ancestor of tortricid subfamilies Olethreutinae and Tortricinae. As the Bombyx mori chromosome 15 contains several genes involved in detoxification pathways and insecticide resistance, this fusion could have facilitated adaptive evolution and radiation of tortricid pests.
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