Battelle’s Post

🔬 Exciting News! 🔍🦢 Wildlife viruses have the power to trigger outbreaks in both humans and animals. Our latest breakthrough involves the detection of a divergent gammacoronavirus within swans. By understanding these viruses and how they interact with their hosts, we're taking a step closer to predicting and stopping potential outbreaks in the future. 🌍 So, let's stay curious and keep exploring the incredible world of science! 🔬 #NewVirusAlert #WildlifeAdventures #ScienceRocks 🧐🌐 #VirusDiscovery #WildlifeOutbreaks #ScienceAtWork #Lovevirology #JGV #MicrobiologySociety

#NGS is a transformative tool not only for investigating the human genome, but also a powerful tool to advance environmental studies. This #EarthDay, we’d like to recognize researchers who take big strides to make the earth a better place for all living organisms. Check out our recent blog post where we highlight a few of our clients’ publications where NGS was used to advance their research relating to plant and animal conservation, evolutionary research, infectious disease, and population genetics: https://lnkd.in/eNdANNah

💡 As pressure on wild spaces continues to mount, this paper highlights the importance of giving wildlife space. By protecting the spaces where bats live and feed, the risk of future pandemics are reduced. When humans move into bat habitat, they risk coming into contact or displacing these animals - increasing the likelihood of disease transmission. 📰 https://ow.ly/l5cq50Rjfey #bats #ecology #trees #wildlife #nature #ecologist #zoologist #bat #chiroptology #chiroptologist #humanhealth #covid #pandemic

🦟🦟���The Surprising Speed and Efficiency of Mosquitoes Feeding! 📢 Did you know that mosquitoes can insert their proboscis into a host's skin in just 1/10th of a second (0.1 seconds) and start feeding within 2-3 seconds? Mosquitoes are incredibly efficient feeders, and their sucking speed and blood consumption vary depending on the species and other factors. Here are some fascinating facts: - Speed: Mosquitoes can insert their proboscis (feeding tube) into a host's skin in about 1/10th of a second (0.1 seconds) and start feeding within 2-3 seconds. - Blood consumption: The amount of blood consumed by a mosquito varies, but: ‣ Aedes aegypti (a common disease vector) can consume up to 5-7 μL (microliters) of blood per feeding session. ‣ Culex pipiens (another disease vector) can consume around 2-3 μL of blood per feeding session. - Feeding duration: Mosquitoes typically feed for 1-3 minutes, but some species can feed for up to 5-7 minutes. Keep in mind that these values can vary depending on factors like mosquito species, host animal, and environmental conditions. Remember, mosquitoes are incredibly efficient feeders, and their feeding behavior is crucial for their survival and, unfortunately, the transmission of diseases to humans and animals. #Mosquitoes #Efficiency #Speed #FeedingHabits #DiseaseTransmission #Precautions #Nature #Wildlife #Biology #Science

Meet the Backswimmers: The Unsung Heroes of Mosquito Population Control! Backswimmers (Notonecta spp.) are aquatic insects belonging to the family Notonectidae. They are also known as "greater water boatmen" due to their elongated, boat-shaped bodies. These insects are predators that feed on various aquatic organisms, including mosquito larvae, which are their favorite snack. Why mosquito larvae are their favorite snack: Mosquito larvae are an ideal food source for backswimmers due to their abundance, nutritional value, and ease of capture. Backswimmers can feed on various stages of mosquito larvae, from first instar to fourth instar, providing a consistent food supply. Mosquito population control: Backswimmers play a significant role in controlling mosquito populations by preying on their larvae. Studies have shown that backswimmers can consume a substantial number of mosquito larvae, with some estimates suggesting they can control up to 50-70% of the mosquito population in certain aquatic ecosystems. Leg strength and swimming speed: Backswimmers have powerful legs that enable them to swim efficiently and capture prey. Their legs are adapted for swimming, with long, slender hairs that help propel them through the water. They can swim at speeds of up to 10-15 cm/s (3.9-5.9 in/s), making them effective predators in their aquatic environment. Eye strength and defense: Backswimmers have large, compound eyes that provide excellent vision, helping them detect prey and predators. Their eyes are positioned on top of their head, allowing them to remain mostly submerged while still observing their surroundings. This helps them detect potential threats and respond quickly to defend themselves. Additional defense mechanisms include: - Producing a foul-tasting fluid to deter predators - Using their powerful legs to kick and defend themselves - Releasing a cloud of sediment to confuse and distract predators Overall, backswimmers play a vital role in maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems, and their predatory habits help control mosquito populations, reducing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases. #Backswimmers #MosquitoControl #AquaticInsects #EcologicalBalance #InsectHeroes #WaterQuality #PublicHealth #Entomology #Biology #Insects #Zoology

In another life, I might have gone down the medical entomology road, but the intersect between urban and medical is real. This tick (Asian Long Horned Tick) will continue to pop-up in more and more places. This is a very informative model predicting the potential range. It doesn't tell you where they could be locally, but still very informative. This quote from the article really sticks out to me, “The main question I am often asked is ‘What can be done about ticks?’—and I don’t have a good answer to that. While research and surveillance are important, we are in dire need of comprehensive tick-control strategy and new tools to carry it out. Mosquito control has been very successful in this country, but we are losing the battle with tick-borne diseases.” #tickcontrol #entomology #entomologytoday https://lnkd.in/giswCWxf Read More

Habitat degradation and loss of genetic diversity are common threats faced by almost all of today’s wild cats. Big cats, such as tigers and lions, are of great concern and have received considerable conservation attention through policies and international actions. However, knowledge of and conservation actions for small wild cats are lagging considerably behind. The black-footed cat, Felis nigripes, one of the smallest felid species, is experiencing increasing threats with a rapid reduction in population size. However, there is a lack of genetic information to assist in developing effective conservation actions. A de novo assembly of a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome of the black-footed cat was made, and comparative genomics and population genomics analyses were carried out. These analyses revealed that the most significant genetic changes in the evolution of the black-footed cat are the rapid evolution of sensory and metabolic-related genes, reflecting genetic adaptations to its characteristic nocturnal hunting and a high metabolic rate. Genomes of the black-footed cat exhibit a high level of inbreeding, especially for signals of recent inbreeding events, which suggest that they may have experienced severe genetic isolation caused by habitat fragmentation. More importantly, inbreeding associated with two deleterious mutated genes may exacerbate the risk of #amyloidosis, the dominant disease that causes mortality of about 70% of captive individuals. Our research provides comprehensive documentation of the evolutionary history of the black-footed cat and suggests that there is an urgent need to investigate genomic variations of small felids worldwide to support effective conservation actions. https://lnkd.in/e5TZ5Ccr

#EcoSaludGlobal Detection of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia bacteria in humans, wildlife, and ticks in the #Amazon rainforest. Tick-borne bacteria of the genera #Ehrlichia and #Anaplasma cause several emerging human infectious diseases worldwide. In this study, we conduct an extensive survey for Ehrlichia and Anaplasma infections in the rainforests of the Amazon biome of French Guiana. Through molecular genetics and metagenomics reconstruction, we observe a high indigenous biodiversity of infections circulating among humans, wildlife, and ticks inhabiting these #ecosystems. #Molecular typing identifies these infections as highly endemic, with a majority of new strains and putative species specific to French Guiana. They are detected in unusual rainforest wild animals, suggesting they have distinctive sylvatic transmission cycles. They also present potential health hazards, as revealed by the detection of Candidatus Anaplasma sparouinense in human red blood cells and that of a new close relative of the human pathogen Ehrlichia ewingii, Candidatus Ehrlichia cajennense, in the tick species that most frequently bite humans in South America. The #genome assembly of three new putative species obtained from human, sloth, and tick metagenomes further reveals the presence of major homologs of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma virulence factors. These observations converge to classify health hazards associated with Ehrlichia and Anaplasma infections in the Amazon biome as distinct from those in the Northern Hemisphere.

Did you know ticks can't fly or jump? Instead, they use a method called questing to latch onto passing hosts. Learn more interesting tick facts from #TeamMGK entomologist Anna Hansen on our blog. #FridayFacts #PestControl #TickAwarenessWeek 

🦉 Unlocking the Avian Mysteries: Exploring the Vital Role of Genetics in Bird Study 🧬 🌐 www.IQbirdtesting.com Bird enthusiasts, birdwatchers, and ornithologists lend us your ears! 🐦🔍 At IQ Bird Testing, we're diving deep into the fascinating world of avian genetics. 🧬🐥 🔬 Why Genetics Matters in Bird Study: 1️⃣ Species Identification: Genetics allows us to distinguish between closely related bird species that may appear identical but have distinct genetic differences. 🦜🔍 2️⃣ Conservation: Understanding the genetic diversity within bird populations is crucial for conservation efforts, helping us protect endangered species and their habitats. 🌿🌍 3️⃣ Behavior and Migration: Genetic studies shed light on bird behavior, migratory patterns, and even songbird dialects. 🎶🌊 4️⃣ Disease Research: Detecting genetic predispositions to diseases helps us safeguard avian health and mitigate potential threats. 🦠💊 5️⃣ Adaptation and Evolution: Bird genetics unveil how these feathered wonders adapt to changing environments and evolve. 🌄🔁 Join us on a journey through the double-helix secrets of our feathered friends! 🧬🕵️♂️ Discover the cutting-edge genetic tests and services we offer at IQ Bird Testing and contribute to the advancement of avian science. 🚀🔬 Let's continue to spread our wings and explore the depths of avian genetics together. Visit www.IQbirdtesting.com to learn more! 🌟🔗 #BirdGenetics #AvianScience #IQBirdTesting #BirdStudy #Conservation #Ornithology #Birdwatching #GeneticResearch