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417 results on '"Baalen, Minus"'

1. On the origins of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus

Author

Penner, Robert and van Baalen, Minus

Subjects
Quantitative Biology - Other Quantitative Biology
Abstract

A possible explanation based on first principles for the appearance of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is proposed involving coinfection with HIV. The gist is that the resultant HIV-induced immunocompromise allows SARS-CoV-2 greater latitude to explore its own mutational space. This latitude is not withoutr estriction, and a specific biophysical constraint is explored. Specifically, a nearly two- to five-fold discrepancy in backbone hydrogen bonding is observed between sub-molecules in Protein Data Bank files of the spike glycoprotein yielding two conclusions: mutagenic residues in the receptor-binding subunit of the spike much more frequently do not participate in backbone hydrogen bonds; and a technique of viral escape is therefore to remove such bonds within physico-chemical and functional constraints. Earlier work, from which the previous discussion is entirely independent, explains these phenomena from general principles of free energy, namely, the metastability of the glycoprotein. The conclusions therefore likely hold more generally as principles in virology.

Published
2021

2. Coevolutionary patterns caused by prey selection

Author

Araujo, Sabrina B. L., Borges, Marcelo Eduardo, von Hartenthal, Francisco W., Jorge, Leonardo R., Lewinsohn, Thomas M., Guimaraes Jr., Paulo R., and van Baalen, Minus

Subjects
Quantitative Biology - Populations and Evolution
Abstract

Many theoretical models have been formulated to better understand the coevolutionary patterns that emerge from antagonistic interactions. These models usually assume that the attacks by the exploiters are random, so the effect of victim selection by exploiters on coevolutionary patterns remains unexplored. Here we analytically studied the payoff for predators and prey under coevolution assuming that every individual predator can attack only a small number of prey any given time, considering two scenarios: (i) predation occurs at random; (ii) predators select prey according to phenotype matching. We also develop an individual based model to verify the robustness of our analytical prediction. We show that both scenarios result in well known similar coevolutionary patterns if population sizes are sufficiently high: symmetrical coevolutionary branching and symmetrical coevolutionary cycling (Red Queen dynamics). However, for small population sizes, prey selection can cause unexpected coevolutionary patterns. One is the breaking of symmetry of the coevolutionary pattern, where the phenotypes evolve towards one of two evolutionarily stable patterns. As population size increases, the phenotypes oscillate between these two values in a novel form of Red Queen dynamics, the episodic reversal between the two stable patterns. Thus, prey selection causes prey phenotypes to evolve towards more extreme values, which reduces the fitness of both predators and prey, increasing the likelihood of extinction.

Published
2018
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10. Siderophores drive invasion dynamics in bacterial communities through their dual role as public good versus public bad

Author

Baalen, Minus, Baalen, M ( Minus ), Figueiredo, Alexandre R T; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2776-2665, Özkaya, Özhan; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0885-4989, Kümmerli, Rolf; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4084-6679, Kramer, Jos; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2155-9295, Baalen, Minus, Baalen, M ( Minus ), Figueiredo, Alexandre R T; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2776-2665, Özkaya, Özhan; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0885-4989, Kümmerli, Rolf; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4084-6679, and Kramer, Jos; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2155-9295

Abstract

Microbial invasions can compromise ecosystem services and spur dysbiosis and disease in hosts. Nevertheless, the mechanisms determining invasion outcomes often remain unclear. Here, we examine the role of iron-scavenging siderophores in driving invasions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa into resident communities of environmental pseudomonads. Siderophores can be 'public goods' by delivering iron to individuals possessing matching receptors; but they can also be 'public bads' by withholding iron from competitors lacking these receptors. Accordingly, siderophores should either promote or impede invasion, depending on their effects on invader and resident growth. Using supernatant feeding and invasion assays, we show that invasion success indeed increased when the invader could use its siderophores to inhibit (public bad) rather than stimulate (public good) resident growth. Conversely, invasion success decreased the more the invader was inhibited by the residents' siderophores. Our findings identify siderophores as a major driver of invasion dynamics in bacterial communities under iron-limited conditions.

Published
2022

13. Correlating changes in Covid-19's transmission parameter with the 'stringency index' of government measures

Author

Baalen, Minus van, Institut de biologie de l'ENS Paris (IBENS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Département de Biologie - ENS Paris, École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS Paris), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS Paris), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Van Baalen, Jacominus, Institut de biologie de l'ENS Paris (UMR 8197/1024) (IBENS), Département de Biologie - ENS Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS-PSL), and Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS-PSL)

Subjects
[SDV.EE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology, environment, [SDV.EE] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology, environment, government measures, public health, transmission, epidemiology, stringency index, Covid-19
Abstract

t is not so easy to assess the relative efficacy of the various restrictive measures that were adopted to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-19. An approach is presented here that attempts to infer changes in contact rates from publicly available data. Though the method is very crude (essentially a ‘hack’) it seems to allow us to link national Covid-19-lockdowns and other measures (relaxations) to temporary changes in transmission rates. Events that are supposed to have increased transmission do not always show up so clearly. However, whatever its limitations, I argue that this method represents an encouraging way backward (in time). More importantly, we can correlate these measures with a published ’stringency index’ of public health measures to curb Covid-19, to assess whether there is an effect on transmission. Despite the obvious shortcomings of both measures there is a clear negative correlation: the more stringent national measures are, the lower the estimated transmission rate.

Published
2021

34. Inbreeding depresses altruism in a cooperative society

Author

Wells, David A., Cant, Michael A., Hoffman, Joseph I., Nichols, Hazel J., and Baalen, Minus

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, cooperation, Altruism (biology), Biology, Breeding, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, evolution, Inbreeding depression, Animals, Inbreeding, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Alloparenting, Sociality, Inbreeding Depression, Ecology, 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology, sociality, Mating system, Altruism, Biological Evolution, Breed, mating systems, alloparenting, Evolutionary ecology, Demography
Abstract

In some animal species, individuals regularly breed with relatives, including siblings and parents. Given the high fitness costs of inbreeding, evolutionary biologists have found it challenging to understand the persistence of these inbred societies in nature. One appealing but untested explanation is that early life care may create a benign environment that offsets inbreeding depression, allowing inbred societies to evolve. We test this possibility using 21 years of data from a wild cooperatively breeding mammal, the banded mongoose, a species where almost one in ten young result from close inbreeding. We show that care provided by parents and alloparents mitigates inbreeding depression for early survival. However, as adults, inbred individuals provide less care, reducing the amount of help available to the next generation. Our results suggest that inbred cooperative societies are rare in nature partly because the protective care that enables elevated levels of inbreeding can be reduced by inbreeding depression.

Published
2020

35. Altruism through beard chromodynamics

Author

Jansen, Vincent A. A. and van Baalen, Minus

Subjects
Environmental issues, Science and technology, Zoology and wildlife conservation
Abstract

Author(s): Vincent A. A. Jansen (corresponding author) [1]; Minus van Baalen [2] The evolution of altruism, a behaviour that benefits others at one's own fitness expense, poses a darwinian paradox. [...]

Published
2006
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36. Inclusive fitness theory and eusociality

Author

Abbot, Patrick, Abe, Jun, Alcock, John, Alizon, Samuel, Alpedrinha, Joao A. C., Andersson, Malte, Andre, Jean-Baptiste, van Baalen, Minus, Balloux, Francois, Balshine, Sigal, Barton, Nick, Beukeboom, Leo W., Biernaskie, Jay M., Bilde, Trine, Borgia, Gerald, Breed, Michael, Brown, Sam, Bshary, Redouan, Buckling, Angus, Burley, Nancy T., Burton-Chellew, Max N., Cant, Michael A., Chapuisat, Michel, Charnov, Eric L., Clutton-Brock, Tim, Cockburn, Andrew, Cole, Blaine J., Colegrave, Nick, Cosmides, Leda, Couzin, Iain D., Coyne, Jerry A., Creel, Scott, Crespi, Bernard, Curry, Robert L., Dall, Sasha R. X., Day, Troy, Dickinson, Janis L., Dugatkin, Lee Alan, Mouden, Claire El, Emlen, Stephen T., Evans, Jay, Ferriere, Regis, Field, Jeremy, Foitzik, Susanne, Foster, Kevin, Foster, William A., Fox, Charles W., Gadau, Juergen, Gandon, Sylvain, Gardner, Andy, Gardner, Michael G., Getty, Thomas, Goodisman, Michael A. D., Grafen, Alan, Grosberg, Rick, Grozinger, Christina M., Gouyon, Pierre-Henri, Gwynne, Darryl, Harvey, Paul H., Hatchwell, Ben J., Heinze, Jürgen, Helantera, Heikki, Helms, Ken R., Hill, Kim, Jiricny, Natalie, Johnstone, Rufus A., Kacelnik, Alex, Kiers, Toby E., Kokko, Hanna, Komdeur, Jan, Korb, Judith, Kronauer, Daniel, Kümmerli, Rolf, Lehmann, Laurent, Linksvayer, Timothy A., Lion, Sébastien, Lyon, Bruce, Marshall, James A. R., McElreath, Richard, Michalakis, Yannis, Michod, Richard E., Mock, Douglas, Monnin, Thibaud, Montgomerie, Robert, Moore, Allen J., Mueller, Ulrich G., Noë, Ronald, Okasha, Samir, Pamilo, Pekka, Parker, Geoff A., Pedersen, Jes S., Pen, Ido, Pfennig, David, Queller, David C., Rankin, Daniel J., Reece, Sarah E., Reeve, Hudson K., Reuter, Max, Roberts, Gilbert, Robson, Simon K. A., Roze, Denis, Rousset, Francois, Rueppell, Olav, Sachs, Joel L., Santorelli, Lorenzo, Schmid-Hempel, Paul, Schwarz, Michael P., Scott-Phillips, Tom, Shellmann-Sherman, Janet, Sherman, Paul W., Shuker, David M., Smith, Jeff, Spagna, Joseph C., Strassmann, Beverly, Suarez, Andrew V., Sundström, Liselotte, Taborsky, Michael, Taylor, Peter, Thompson, Graham, Tooby, John, Tsutsui, Neil D., Tsuji, Kazuki, Turillazzi, Stefano, Úbeda, Francisco, Vargo, Edward L., Voelkl, Bernard, Wenseleers, Tom, West, Stuart A., West-Eberhard, Mary Jane, Westneat, David F., Wiernasz, Diane C., Wild, Geoff, Wrangham, Richard, Young, Andrew J., Zeh, David W., Zeh, Jeanne A., and Zink, Andrew

Published
2011
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37. Coevolutionary patterns caused by prey selection

Author

B. L. Araujo, Sabrina, primary, Borges, Marcelo Eduardo, additional, W. von Hartenthal, Francisco, additional, R. Jorge, Leonardo, additional, M. Lewinsohn, Thomas, additional, Guimarães Jr., Paulo R., additional, and van Baalen, Minus, additional

Published
2020
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40. Siderophores drive invasion dynamics in bacterial communities through their dual role as public good versus public bad.

Author

Figueiredo, Alexandre R. T., Özkaya, Özhan, Kümmerli, Rolf, Kramer, Jos, and van Baalen, Minus

Subjects
SIDEROPHORES, BACTERIAL communities, PUBLIC goods, COMMON good, MICROBIAL invasiveness, BIOLOGICAL invasions, PLANT invasions
Abstract

Microbial invasions can compromise ecosystem services and spur dysbiosis and disease in hosts. Nevertheless, the mechanisms determining invasion outcomes often remain unclear. Here, we examine the role of iron‐scavenging siderophores in driving invasions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa into resident communities of environmental pseudomonads. Siderophores can be 'public goods' by delivering iron to individuals possessing matching receptors; but they can also be 'public bads' by withholding iron from competitors lacking these receptors. Accordingly, siderophores should either promote or impede invasion, depending on their effects on invader and resident growth. Using supernatant feeding and invasion assays, we show that invasion success indeed increased when the invader could use its siderophores to inhibit (public bad) rather than stimulate (public good) resident growth. Conversely, invasion success decreased the more the invader was inhibited by the residents' siderophores. Our findings identify siderophores as a major driver of invasion dynamics in bacterial communities under iron‐limited conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2022
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49. Stress causes interspecific facilitation within a compost community.

Author

Hesse, Elze, O'Brien, Siobhan, Luján, Adela M., Sanders, Dirk, Bayer, Florian, van Veen, Eleanor M., Hodgson, Dave J., Buckling, Angus, and van Baalen, Minus

Subjects
BIOTIC communities, ABIOTIC stress, MICROBIAL communities, POTTING soils, BACTERIAL communities, COMPETITION (Biology)
Abstract

Ecological theory predicts interactions between species to become more positive under abiotic stress, while competition should prevail in more benign environments. However, experimental tests of this stress gradient hypothesis in natural microbial communities are lacking. We test this hypothesis by measuring interactions between 10 different members of a bacterial community inhabiting potting compost in the presence or absence of toxic copper stress. We found that copper stress caused significant net changes in species interaction signs, shifting the net balance towards more positive interactions. This pattern was at least in part driven by copper‐sensitive isolates – that produced relatively small amounts of metal‐detoxifying siderophores – benefitting from the presence of other species that produce extracellular detoxifying agents. As well as providing support for the stress gradient hypothesis, our results highlight the importance of community‐wide public goods in shaping microbial community composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2021
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50. A double pedigree reveals genetic but not cultural inheritance of cooperative personalities in wild banded mongooses.

Author

Nichols, Hazel J., Arbuckle, Kevin, Sanderson, Jennifer L., Vitikainen, Emma I. K., Marshall, Harry H., Thompson, Faye J., Cant, Michael A., Wells, David A., and van Baalen, Minus

Subjects
MONGOOSES, SOCIAL learning, PERSONALITY, HEREDITY
Abstract

Personality traits, such as the propensity to cooperate, are often inherited from parents to offspring, but the pathway of inheritance is unclear. Traits could be inherited via genetic or parental effects, or culturally via social learning from role models. However, these pathways are difficult to disentangle in natural systems as parents are usually the source of all of these effects. Here, we exploit natural 'cross fostering' in wild banded mongooses to investigate the inheritance of cooperative behaviour. Our analysis of 800 adult helpers over 21 years showed low but significant genetic heritability of cooperative personalities in males but not females. Cross fostering revealed little evidence of cultural heritability: offspring reared by particularly cooperative helpers did not become more cooperative themselves. Our results demonstrate that cooperative personalities are not always highly heritable in wild, and that the basis of behavioural traits can vary within a species (here, by sex). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2021
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